Obtaining authentication and appraisal of antique opium pipes, opium lamps and other antique opium-smoking paraphernalia (i.e. AVOIDING FAKES and MISTAKES)...

As a collector I am alarmed by the large number of fakes to have hit the market in the past few years. Not only has the amount of newly-made fakes grown, so too the quality of these fakes has improved – and most are being sold as genuine antiques.

The interest in antique opium paraphernalia is such that already the demand has outstripped supply, and as so often happens in such situations, the unscrupulous are taking advantage.

It is a testament to the success of opium eradication campaigns of the early twentieth century that today, not only are there very few authentic pieces of antique opium paraphernalia remaining, but the people who can differentiate between a genuine antique piece and a newly-made fake are also very rare.

During my research on the subject I have been astonished to find fakes in the best collections, and to see otherwise reputable dealers and auction houses offering fakes to their unsuspecting clients. I have even spotted fakes in museum exhibitions.

Also now common are opium pipes and lamps that have been "restored" in such a way that they are not faithful to the originals, but instead have been embellished to give them a higher value. For example, an ivory mouthpiece is often attached to a pipe-stem that originally sported one of an inferior quality jade. The restoration histories of such pipes, when displayed at private galleries or put up for auction, are almost never mentioned. In fact, some dealers get around issues of ethics by simply leaving out estimates of age or provenance in their catalogs or on their websites. Other dealers and websites brazenly misrepresent the age of their items. Their pipes may be labeled as "nineteenth century" but in fact they are not much older than the sandwich you had for lunch.

A piece's authenticity can only be confirmed by examining the design and material characteristics of the piece in comparison with known genuine pieces. I have gained the expertise to make such judgment through the examination of thousands of pieces. There is absolutely no substitute for the experienced eye.

For all these reasons I am now offering an authentication and appraisal service. Fees are reasonable and I am usually able to deliver a verdict within twenty-four hours of payment. If you are interested or have any questions, please contact me at the email address below and if possible include a photograph of the piece to be authenticated or appraised. I will get back to you promptly.

Please email me at stevechasmar@yahoo.com

Steven Martin
Author, The Art of Opium Antiques

This book is now available at Amazon.com