Chinese hand painted opium pillow decorative sculpture

3" x 6" Excellent condition vintage porcelain opium pillow. Hand painted. No damage, clean and ready for display About this item What have now become a quaint addition to an Asian or Chinoiserie home decor aesthetic, Opium pillows do not have an past. The history of these pillows can be traced back to centuries. Not only were they used for a functional purpose they served several roles. Opium dens were dimly lit, and users often felt drowsy after smoking opium. The ceramic pillows provided a cool and comfortable surface for their heads. Many ceramic pillows were hollow, allowing people to store valuables inside. Users would place their precious items within the pillow, securing them against a wall, and then rest their heads on the cool surface. Chinese craftsmen adorned these pillows with culturally significant symbols, poetry, and intricate designs. Some featured motifs from China’s earliest dynasties. The exterior of ceramic pillows felt cool to the touch, providing refreshment in hot and humid climates. This offering is for two wonderful examples of such pillows. The first is a lovely blue and white traditional Chinoiserie design of a male. Most pillows using a person's figure, had them laying in repose.