Chinese redware opium pipe bowl. Opium use in Chinese culture goes back a millennium; opium was first used for medicinal purposes in the 10th century. Opium use in America rose from only a few thousand chests of opium annually in the late 1700s to more than 80,000 chests by the late 1800s. Opium was widely used by both Chinese and European Americans for its medicinal benefits. This piece was found in the backyard of 47 Minna Street.