Kalian

1640-80 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A kalian is a 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 hookah, huqqa, qalian, qalyan, qaliyan, narghile, shisha, and hubble-bubble.

Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Fritware with underglaze painting
Brief description
Kalian (water-pipe base), fritware painted in underglaze blue and black; Iran, 1640-80
Physical description
Flask of fritware, with flattened body and three moulded openings, one at the centre of the domed top, two on the shoulder. Painted in blue with black outline under a clear glaze. Surrounding the top is a panel of diaperwork with fret border. More diaperwork of swastikas and cash pattern decorate the lateral sides. Two islands on two levels with birds, trees and pagados decorate the large panels on the broad sides. The base is flat and unglazed.
Dimensions
  • Height: 10.3cm
  • Width: 8.7cm
Production
Register
Subjects depicted
Summary
A kalian is a 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 hookah, huqqa, qalian, qalyan, qaliyan, narghile, shisha, and hubble-bubble.
Bibliographic reference
Crowe, Yolande, Persia and China: Safavid Blue and White Ceramics in the Victoria & Albert Museum (1501-1738) (London : Thames and Hudson, 2002): cat. no. 503, p.275.
Collection
Accession number
1129-1883

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 Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis.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 createdApril 2, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest