I posed the question to this individual this morning after the possibility of this item being an opium pipe was raised which would not constitute "relavent info... placed before us at the start instead of dribs and drabs." I am and have been following this site's generous and quick leads by digging further; I am not sitting here twiddling my thumbs waiting for an answer, of which, I still do not know what exactly this item is; I merely obtained an
additional possibility as you and others have so kindly and generously given. Lastly, the only information that I had from the git-go was - nothing other than it being oriental in nature. Therefore I posted 21 additional photographs and many measurements on this site...
well there you are then...had all the relevant info been placed before us at the start..instead of in dribs & drabs....speculatio n as to what this was would have been limited....to,."its a bed warmer,for now long dead rich aristocrats...but now it hangs on a wall