Not on display

Hookah Maker

Painting
ca. 1826 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is an example of a ‘Company painting’ – a picture made by an Indian artist for the British in India, particularly employees of the East India Company, the trading firm that by the 18th century had acquired a territorial empire in India. The painting comes from a set of 35 made in Patna in northern India, depicting various trades and occupations. It shows a man seated on the ground making ‘snakes’ or stems for huqqas (hubble-bubbles or smoking pipes) made from coconut shells. Another man sits on the right holding a huqqa in his hands, while examples of the finished product are hanging on a rack behind and coconuts are lying on the ground in front.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleHookah Maker (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour on paper
Brief description
Painting; watercolour, a 'huqqa' maker, Patna, ca. 1826
Physical description
A 'huqqa' (water-pipe) maker. From a group of 35 drawings of trades and occupations.
Dimensions
  • Height: 23.5cm
  • Length: 19.5cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Nicha-bund-Hookah Maker.' John Hall 1819 and C. Wilmot 1821 (Inscribed. Watermark)
  • (watermarked 1819)
Credit line
Presented by Lady Amherst
Object history
A 'huqqa' is a smoking device that consists of a container with smoking leaves mounted on a base filled with water. A long tube is attached so that smoke is drawn through the water where it is cooled and up the tube to the mouth.
Summary
This is an example of a ‘Company painting’ – a picture made by an Indian artist for the British in India, particularly employees of the East India Company, the trading firm that by the 18th century had acquired a territorial empire in India. The painting comes from a set of 35 made in Patna in northern India, depicting various trades and occupations. It shows a man seated on the ground making ‘snakes’ or stems for huqqas (hubble-bubbles or smoking pipes) made from coconut shells. Another man sits on the right holding a huqqa in his hands, while examples of the finished product are hanging on a rack behind and coconuts are lying on the ground in front.
Bibliographic reference
Archer, Mildred. Company Paintings Indian Paintings of the British period Victoria and Albert Museum Indian Series London: Victoria and Albert Museum, Maplin Publishing, 1992, 87 p. ISBN 0944142303
Collection
Accession number
IS.44-1964

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Record createdOctober 4, 2002
Record URL
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