Mid 19th Century Buddha Belly Bamboo Pipe

Description

This sculptural bamboo pipe was made in the 19th century, roughly three hundred years after European sailors introduced tobacco to … more This sculptural bamboo pipe was made in the 19th century, roughly three hundred years after European sailors introduced tobacco to China. It is handcrafted from a special type of bamboo (Bambusa ventricosa), commonly called “Buddha belly bamboo”. The unusual form is created by artisans who regulate the water and root space to train the bamboo to grow with the characteristic bulges that have inspired its colorful name. less