Huqqa Base
Huqqa base, Bidar, c.1855.
The shape of this huqqa base, with its waisted body, projecting spout at the side to hold the 'snake' and sometimes having feet (as here) does not appear before the 19th century. Its use does not seem to be confined to aparticular area; a miature painted in Delhi and dating from c.1830 shows a closely comparable example in silver. (see pl.13).
The design on the body is of four susped and lobed cartouches containing tightly compressed poppy plants, with poppy flowers on a silver ground filling the spaces between. The poppyheads on horizontal scrolls, bands of leaves alternating with rosettes of seven circles of inlay and wider borders of pointed dentils are all typically found on Bidar wares of the period.
The shape of this huqqa base, with its waisted body, projecting spout at the side to hold the 'snake' and sometimes having feet (as here) does not appear before the 19th century. Its use does not seem to be confined to aparticular area; a miature painted in Delhi and dating from c.1830 shows a closely comparable example in silver. (see pl.13).
The design on the body is of four susped and lobed cartouches containing tightly compressed poppy plants, with poppy flowers on a silver ground filling the spaces between. The poppyheads on horizontal scrolls, bands of leaves alternating with rosettes of seven circles of inlay and wider borders of pointed dentils are all typically found on Bidar wares of the period.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Inlaid with silver. |
| Brief description | Domestic, bidri, Bidar, c.1855 |
| Physical description | Huqqa base, Bidar, c.1855. The shape of this huqqa base, with its waisted body, projecting spout at the side to hold the 'snake' and sometimes having feet (as here) does not appear before the 19th century. Its use does not seem to be confined to aparticular area; a miature painted in Delhi and dating from c.1830 shows a closely comparable example in silver. (see pl.13). The design on the body is of four susped and lobed cartouches containing tightly compressed poppy plants, with poppy flowers on a silver ground filling the spaces between. The poppyheads on horizontal scrolls, bands of leaves alternating with rosettes of seven circles of inlay and wider borders of pointed dentils are all typically found on Bidar wares of the period. |
| Object history | Acqusition: Indian Museum, London in 1855; transfered to SKM in 1880. |
| Bibliographic reference | Bidri ware : inlaid metalwork from India / Susan Stronge. [London]: Victoria & Albert Museum Commissions, 1985 Number: 090520963X :
p.61 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 02942(IS) |
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| Record created | June 25, 2009 |
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