Featured Mystery Chinese(?) object identification

Hi Everyone,
Is anyone able to identify what this object is/used for?

TIA,
Biju

 

I assume youve taken the lid off? What does the inside look like ? Knee jerk is a tea caddy .Measurements always help.

 

It's 8.5 inches tall. It's not really a lid. The pin acts like a lever, so if you push down on it, the bird rises.

 

possible ...
https://www.invaluable.com/auction-...obacco-pipe-with-zodiac-signs-34-c-15a4947936

 

Yes, Bingo!! Great job finding it - thanks so much!
Here's another example that a little closer to mine (Chinese opium water pipe): https://www.liveauctioneers.com/ite...inese-mother-of-pearl-inlaid-opium-water-pipe

 

not sure about Chinese ....

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/8489404_379-vietnamese-mother-of-pearl-inlaid-water-pipes.

 

That example has a different character set. On mine, it's Chinese characters.

 

Indeed a Vietnamese tobacco water pipe!
Nam Ding is an area famous in Indochina\Vietnam for this mother of pearl inlay work.
Not for opium...

 

yup...like Kyra sez...here it's the item.....not what's written on it !

 

Thank you both for lending your expertise. I will defer to your assessment.

 

Ditto!

Not Chinese characters, old Vietnamese script. Many East Asian countries have related scripts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_writing_in_Vietnam

 

Oops damn auto correct... it is Nam Dinh not Ding

 

Otto Corekt is driving me nuts.......takes longer to type what I need to say...

 

ohhh.... I meant ...Auto Korrekt .....

 

Thanks so much for your feedback Kyra and Komokwa.