This item has been added to the Database within the Explore Islamic Art Collections project. Information is available in: English, Arabic.

Name of Object:

Water vessel and tobacco bowl support from a huqqa

Location:

London, United Kingdom

Holding Museum:

Khalili Family Trust – Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art

About Khalili Family Trust – Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art, London

Date of Object:

Early 18th century

Museum Inventory Number:

JLY 1974

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Gold on a lac core with painted, cloisonné and champlevé enamels

Dimensions:

Diameter: 27 x 21cm

Period / Dynasty:

Mughal

Provenance:

India, probably Rajastan, Mewar

Description:

The water vessel and the tobacco bowl are elements of a water pipe or huqqa. Both are decorated with translucent cloisonné and opaque champlevé enamels with flowers, branches of leaves and beautifully dressed and jewelled peris (angels) offering gifts. No other Indian treasury objects with such elaborate enamelled decoration are known. Mark Zebrowski attributed the huqqa to an early 18th-century workshop in Mewar, Rajput state.

How date and origin were established:

Date and provenance are based on stylistic and technical grounds.

Selected bibliography:

Moura Carvalho, P., Gems and jewels of Mughal India, London: The Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art, volume 18, 2010: cat.69, pp.152-157.
Zebrowski, M., Gold, Silver & Bronze from Mughal India, London: Alexandria Press, 1997: pls 40–42, pp.62–5.

Citation of this web page:

 "Water vessel and tobacco bowl support from a huqqa" in Explore Islamic Art Collections. Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;EPM;uk;Mus21;28;en

MWNF Working Number: UK1 28