Kalian
1640-1680 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This ceramic vessel is a ‘kalian’ or base for a water-pipe used in the newly introduced practice of smoking tobacco. It held the water through which the smoke was drawn to cool it through a long flexible tube connected to a container through two holes. They are also known as a hookah, huqqa, qalian, qalyan, qaliyan, narghile, shisha, and a hubble-bubble.
It was made in Iran during the reign of the Safavid dynasty (1501-1722). At this time potters often used single colour glazes to great effect, frequently decorating them with coloured slips (liquid clay) under the glaze. Alternatively they sometimes carved the slip away to reveal the white body beneath. In other cases, as here, they added designs in white and other slips.
It was made in Iran during the reign of the Safavid dynasty (1501-1722). At this time potters often used single colour glazes to great effect, frequently decorating them with coloured slips (liquid clay) under the glaze. Alternatively they sometimes carved the slip away to reveal the white body beneath. In other cases, as here, they added designs in white and other slips.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Fritware, underglaze slip-painted |
| Brief description | Kalian (water-pipe base), fritware, of pear-shape, covered in a celadon slip and painted in white slip with a bowl of flowers under a clear glaze; Iran (probably Kirman), 1640-1680. |
| Physical description | Olive green kalian with decoration painted on the surface in a light green slip showing a wide-rimmed vase with flowers and foliage spilling out. The decorated vase also has a pattern and near the base of the kalian there is a panel with more foliage. Rounded base with the neck divided into two parts by a ring; the small nozzle for the pipe has relief blobs and is placed at the beginning of the shoulder. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label |
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| Summary | This ceramic vessel is a ‘kalian’ or base for a water-pipe used in the newly introduced practice of smoking tobacco. It held the water through which the smoke was drawn to cool it through a long flexible tube connected to a container through two holes. They are also known as a hookah, huqqa, qalian, qalyan, qaliyan, narghile, shisha, and a hubble-bubble. It was made in Iran during the reign of the Safavid dynasty (1501-1722). At this time potters often used single colour glazes to great effect, frequently decorating them with coloured slips (liquid clay) under the glaze. Alternatively they sometimes carved the slip away to reveal the white body beneath. In other cases, as here, they added designs in white and other slips. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 422-1878 |
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| Record created | February 24, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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