BIDAR, CENTRAL INDIA, EARLY 19TH CENTURY

Details

A SILVER AND SILVER-INLAID HUQQA
BIDAR, CENTRAL INDIA, EARLY 19TH CENTURY
Consisting of a bell-shaped silver-inlaid bidri huqqa base with a silver head worked in openwork, the base decorated with leaves and blossom, similar design repeated on the mouth, bordered above and below with a band of cusped interlocking palmettes, the shoulder with scrolling floral vine, chevron pattern around the neck, silver head with engraved and openwork floral decoration and bands of interlocking palmettes very similar to those on the base, chains attached to cork pipe stoppers, good condition
16½in. (45cm.) high

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 20% on the buyer's premium.

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Lot Essay

This bidri huqqa base and the silver top that surmounts it were made to be mounted ensuite. The floral band around the neck of the base and that above the pipe fixture are decorated with exactly the same pattern of scrolling vine which issues large flowerheads pointing in alternate directions. Similarly, both employ in their decorative schemes chevron bands and registers of trefoil palmettes. This suggests strongly that they were made in the same workshop and were always intended to be mounted together.

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