19th century blue & white opium pillow form with pierced panel. Decorated on four sides with a pair of lion dogs playing with rope and key pattern borders. Signed upper left, above the lion dog on one side.
These pillows were commonly used in opium dens. The smoker would be able to put their wallet or other items in the larger aperture of the pillow. The smoker would then lay on the floor resting their head on the pillow. This allowed their belongings to be kept more safely.