This 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 been drunk. 

Although opium is no longer used in the same way, these pieces still make unusual unique ornaments that come complete with a fascinating social history.

References: 

For a similar example see page 39 of Museums of India 'National Handicrafts & Handlooms Museum New Delhi' by Jyotindra Jain & Aarti Aggarwala. Note that the book misidentifies this as a lamp stand. 

A similar example can be found in Unknown Masterpieces of Indian Folk & Tribal Art by S Aryan & B.N. Aryan, fig 352. 

From India

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