Small paktong ‘dustpan’ used to remove spilt opium dross (remains of opium). A small brush (see QF 6647) was used to sweep the dross onto the shovel so that it could later on be mixed with fresh opium to save cost as opium smoking was an expensive habit. For Paktong see QF 1465. The shovel dates from the late Qing (1644 – 1912) to early Republic period (1912 – 1947). Length 5.9 cm. Width 4.7 cm. Height 0.8 cm.