Kalian thumbnail 1

Kalian

1650-1700 (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 in order to cool it using 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.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Fritware, painted in green and red slip and underglaze blue
Brief description
Kalian (water-pipe base), fritware, with interlocking pattern of flower sprays and scrolling leaves, underglaze-painted in red slip and cobalt blue; Iran, 1650-1700
Physical description
Kalian, or hookah base, decorated around the body with interlocking pattern of carnation sprays in green and red slip contrasting with blue scrolling leaves, and sketchy blue Chinese-style cloud motifs around the neck and base
Dimensions
  • Height: 30.4cm
  • Diameter: 18cm
Style
Production
"Kirman Polychrome"
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 in order to cool it using 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.
Collection
Accession number
2504-1876

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest