An opium lamp was used to heat a small blob of opium which was pasted on top of the bowl of an opium pipe. The bowl was held upside down over the flame of an oil lamp until the opium started to evaporate and the fumes could be inhaled through the smoker’s pipe. This paktong (See Quick Find 2351) and cloisonné (See Quick Find 0402) lamp is decorated with lots of auspicious objects such as a fruit bowl with a Pomegranate, a Peach and a Finger Citron (The Three Abundances) resulting in the phrase ‘May you have an abundance of Blessings, Sons and Longevity’ (fushou sanduo), a Box (Being together and Harmony) with a Persimmon (Business) and a Peach (Long life), a Brush pot with a Brush (Definitely), a Gourd (Longevity and Fertility) and something which may be a Feather (hat symbol of a high official), a Vase (Peace) with a Gourd (Longevity and Fertility) and a musical instrument called ‘Qin’ in a brocade cover (symbol of a Scholar), a Cauldron (Must) with incense sticks and an unknown object, a Pomegranate (Many sons) and a branch of coral (First Rank), and a plant pot with un unknown plant and fruits, all against a light blue background with clouds (Good Fortune). In our view each individual scene forms a rebus incorporating all objects in that scene, but we have not yet been able to figure this out apart from the ‘Three Abundances’. The fretted paktong rim under the glass of the lamp is decorated with Longevity and Double Happiness symbols as well as Swastikas (Ten thousand). The opium lamp dates from the late Qing period (1644 – 1912). Total height 10.2 cm. Width 7.1 cm.