Kalian
ca. 1650 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This cat formed the base of a water-pipe (‘kalian’) used in the newly introduced practice of smoking tobacco. It held the water through which the smoke was drawn to cool it. The holes in the head and breast were for the two pipes needed. The inspiration for this piece may have been a type of Chinese night light.
In the Safavid period (1501-1722) Iranian potters made ceramics in the style of Chinese blue-and-white porcelain. Some of the Iranian wares were close imitations of Chinese originals and even had copies of Chinese maker’s marks on the base. Other items were obviously inspired by Chinese pottery but have a shape or decoration that is typically Iranian. They include the bases of water-pipes, such as this piece.
In the Safavid period (1501-1722) Iranian potters made ceramics in the style of Chinese blue-and-white porcelain. Some of the Iranian wares were close imitations of Chinese originals and even had copies of Chinese maker’s marks on the base. Other items were obviously inspired by Chinese pottery but have a shape or decoration that is typically Iranian. They include the bases of water-pipes, such as this piece.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Fritware, underglaze painted in blue and black |
| Brief description | Kalian (water-pipe base), fritware, in the form of a seated cat; Iran, mid-17th century. |
| Physical description | Qalyan (water-pipe base) in the shape of a cat sitting on hind legs with eyes staring out from sunken sockets. The nose, eyebrows and whiskers have been reserved in white. One ear is broken. The tip of its tongue is showing. Its back and sides are covered with three sets of elongated flames while delicate Chinese clouds, dashes and speckling fill the remaining space. The tail is curled up along one side and over one paw. Both openings are flat, one on top of the head and the other below its neck. The bottom is flat and unglazed without a mark. |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label |
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| Historical context | The reason for this unexpected cat is to be found in the shape of certain Chinese night lights ranging in date from the late 16th century until well into the Qing dynasty. These Chinese cats look very fierce and their stripes are indicated by dashes on the Persian qalyan. |
| Production | Dated by Yolande Crowe to the reign of Shah Abbas II (1642-1666) |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This cat formed the base of a water-pipe (‘kalian’) used in the newly introduced practice of smoking tobacco. It held the water through which the smoke was drawn to cool it. The holes in the head and breast were for the two pipes needed. The inspiration for this piece may have been a type of Chinese night light. In the Safavid period (1501-1722) Iranian potters made ceramics in the style of Chinese blue-and-white porcelain. Some of the Iranian wares were close imitations of Chinese originals and even had copies of Chinese maker’s marks on the base. Other items were obviously inspired by Chinese pottery but have a shape or decoration that is typically Iranian. They include the bases of water-pipes, such as this piece. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1225-1876 |
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| Record created | November 19, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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