A COMPLETE BIDRI SILVER-INLAID HUQQA (WATER PIPE)
Bidar, Deccan, Central India, 18th - 19th century

A COMPLETE BIDRI SILVER-INLAID HUQQA (WATER PIPE)

Bidar, Deccan, Central India, late 18th - early 19th century

The huqqa of typical bell-like shape, resting on a larger circular base, surmounted by a tapering bulbous silver staff with a dragon-headed spout and hourglass-shaped brazier, at the top a scalloped silver brazier cup with pierced and engraved floral pattern and a fretwork band below the rim, the bidri silver-inlaid decoration on the huqqa and its base consisting of oval medallions of intricate and lush floral sprays flanked by baluster-like columns supporting squinches with thick foliage and further vegetal motifs, around the borders concentric bands of vines and flower head roundels, 80cm high.

Dimensions: 80cm high