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Kalian

Kalian

  • Place of origin:

    Iran (produced)

  • Date:

    1650-1700 (made)
    1800-1825 (mounted)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Fritware painted in underglaze cobalt blue and chromium black, with engraved brass mount

  • Museum number:

    437-1887

  • Gallery location:

    Ceramics, Room 137, The Curtain Foundation Gallery, case 28, shelf 3

A kalian is an oriental tobacco pipe with a long flexible tube connected to a container where the smoke is cooled by passing through water. They are also known as a hookah, huqqa, qalian, qalyan, qaliyan, narghile, shisha, and a hubble-bubble.

Physical description

Kalian, or hookah base, decorated with pairs of horned deer, leaves and fruit painted in reserve with black outline against blue ground with black hatching. Brass mount added in Qajar Iran, ca.1800-1825. Signed Khwaja Muhammad on the base.

Place of Origin

Iran (produced)

Date

1650-1700 (made)
1800-1825 (mounted)

Artist/maker

Unknown

Materials and Techniques

Fritware painted in underglaze cobalt blue and chromium black, with engraved brass mount

Marks and inscriptions

Kar-e Khwaja Muhammad
The work of Khwaja Muhammad
Painted on the base

Dimensions

Height: 31.8 cm, Diameter: 19.4 cm

Object history note

The dish C.1974-1910 has a similar signature under the base. It should read: "Kha Haji Muhammed", "work of Haji Muhammed". (Mr. R.W. Skelton, 12/04/1961)

Descriptive line

Kalian (water-pipe base), fritware underglaze-painted in cobalt blue with black outline, Iran, 1650-1700. Brass mount added in Qajar Iran, early 19th century

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Crowe, Yolande. Persia and China. Safavid blue and white ceramics in the Victoria and Albert Museum 1501-1738. London: Thames & Hudson, 2002. ISBN 0-9538196-1-2

Production Note

Register

Materials

Fritware; Brass (alloy)

Techniques

Painted; Glazed; Engraved; Mounted

Subjects depicted

Deer; Leaves; Antelope; Fruit

Categories

Ceramics; Smoking accessories

Collection

Middle East Section

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