Wrought Iron Opium Retort From Jaisalmer - 19th Century Lamp Niches Similar examples can be found

Similar examples can be found in Ritual Bronzes Of Maharashtra & Karnataka Including The Bhuta Region by Leo S Figiel

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

circa 1940

The process is commonly known as cire perdue

Wrought Iron Opium Retort From Jaisalmer - 19th Century Lamp Niches Similar examples can be foundThis 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