Wrought Iron Opium Retort From Jaisalmer - 19th Century Lamp Niches while the pair of cupboard

while the pair of cupboard doors beneath offer discreet storage

This chest is mid 19thC & comes from Gujarat

it's beautifully made from a metal alloy

while the warm brass surface has developed a rich patina through decades of use

The polished marble surface enhances the precision of the carving

Wrought Iron Opium Retort From Jaisalmer - 19th Century Lamp Niches while the pair of cupboardThis old Indian iron opium retort (or hemp filter) was used for filtering raw opium through a cotton bag. This one unusually has four rings for straining of opium and four intertwining snakes. It dates to the 19th century and would have been part of Rajasthani traditional opium consumption. The iron is delicately etched and these stands were hand wrought by Lohar blacksmiths in Rajasthan. They would have filtered the opium water which would then have