The characteristic form of Huqqa (engl. Waterpipe, also spelled hookah) bases had only appeared in India in the 17th century. There are similar shaped examples in glass, often with gilt décor but more commonly are those made in bidriware, with a corpus of zinc alloy usually inlaid with silver. The Chinese were eager to adopt this form in their porcelain production once the demand for pieces like this was rapidly growing. The Chinese blue and white models then also had a particular influence on the decoration of the Indian bidriware production when these models became fashionable export luxury items on the Indian market. Cf. Zebrowski, Gold, silver & bronze from Mughal India, London 1997, pp. 224-236.
This present huqqa is a superb example of the mentioned cultural exchange between India and China. It illustrates the influence of the Mughal style with its floral elements and demonstrates a unique, symbolic interaction between the Indian and the Chinese design. See e.g. a very similar shaped blue and white hookah base in the Riesco Collection, which was included in The Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition, Chinese Blue and White Porcelain, 14th to 19th Centuries, London 1953 - 1954, no. 259, pl. 16d. Another blue and white example is illustrated in Valenstein, A handbook of Chinese Ceramics, New York 1989, p. 224.
A famille verte example of the same shape and period with stylised Islamic calligraphy, is in the collection of the British Museum (acc. no. 1956,1017.2) as well as two further blue and white examples, which are in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum (acc. no. 1596-1876 and C.959-1910). Another huqqa base in underglaze blue and white of the same form can be found is in the collection of the Topkapi Saray Palace, TKS 15/4312, illustrated in John Ayers, Regina Krahl and others, Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum Istanbul, London 1986, p. 987, pl. 2084. See also: von Folsach, Art from the World of Islam in The David Collection, Copenhagen, 2001, p. 179, pl. 242.
Condition:
The vase is in good condition with only slight age related signs of wear. The height measures 19.5 cm.
Shipping costs excl. statutory VAT and plus 2,5% (+VAT) shipping insurance.
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