MUGHAL INDIA, CIRCA 1700

Details

A BIDRI INLAID SILVER HOOKAH BASE
MUGHAL INDIA, CIRCA 1700
Of globular form with flared mouth with pronounced boss, the body with band of raised silver flowers encompassed within a repeating pattern of leaves, with minor bands of smaller similar flower heads on meandering vine and bordered by thin bands of of leaves and roundels, one band around the base and one around the neck with brass inlaid geometric pattern, negligible loss of inlay
7in. (17.8cm.) high

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis. Please note that the lots of Iranian origin are subject to U.S. trade restrictions which currently prohibit the import into the United States. Similar restrictions may apply in other countries.

Lot Essay

The form and design of this hookah is immediately recognisable as that of a small group of five inlaid jade hookah bases, two of which, formerly in the Beckford Collection, are now in the British Museum (Robert Skelton et al., The Indian Heritage, Court Life and the Arts under Mughal Rule, exhibition catalogue, London, 1982, no.366, pp.120-1). No examples have however been published of the same design in different materials. In addition to this, what is most unusual is the three dimensionality of the decoration with the silver elements remaining well proud of the base metal surface, giving far better articulation than is normally encountered in Bidri vessels. Considerably later, this is a feature found in Bidri ware attributed to Lucknow; is the present vessel a very early Lucknow example in the same technique imported from the Deccan?

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