Romance of the Huqqa

Columbus brought it to Europe as a means of opening new ways for  European colonisation. It spread to France in 1556, Portugal in 1558, Spain in 1559 and England in 1565.

Asad Beg brought back stems of tobacco and presented the same with a bejewelled pipe and gold lighter to Emperor Akbar. For the first time, he enjoyed smoking tobacco in front of his audience. This implies that tobacco had been first introduced in the court of Bijapur. 

Increased use of tobacco led Abul-Fath Gilani, Persian physician at Mughal Emperor Akbar’s (1542–1605 A.D) court to make a glass base filled with water through which smoke could be purified and cooled down led to the invention of 'huqqa' in fashion and style as we know it today 

This globular glass huqqa base is from a Mughal glass factory, dated 17th century. Floral arabesque patterns and geometric motifs on its base show Persian influence as Persian craftsmen were patronised by the Mughal court during the 17th and 18th centuries.

This exquisite bell-shaped Bidri huqqa bottom, dated to the 19th century has designs inlaid in gold and is from Bidar, now in Karnataka, India. Flower stalk patterns with diamond shaped panels can be seen over the body.

This dark bell-shaped metal base is an alloy of copper, lead and zinc that never rusts or loses its dark sleek color. It is inlaid with silver wire to represent floral and creeper designs over its vertical flutings and broad base, from Bidar, Karnataka dated to 19th century.

Exquisite, blue coloured, bell shaped glass huqqa base with many sided panels with wavy and linear designs around the body, golden line with a floral border near the base, from Deccan, India, dated to 17th century.

Painting depicts a lady standing smoking huqqa. A maid holding huqqa standing in front on the other with fly whisk behind. Leafy and flower creeper bands around. Flower creeper in margin, Deccani painting, late 18th century.

This red-coloured cut-glass huqqa belongs to Belgium, from  the 20th century. Its elongated body consists of three lotus shaped knobs in the middle and tobacco container on the top. The huqqa rests on four curved glass legs. 

This tobacco pipe shaped bottom is a glimpse of the creative experiments of the 19th century Indian metal works. It has jalidar cover with spherical knob and is supported by four decorative legs. Flower designs are engraved all over the body. There’s an oval mount on the body.

This figure of a bearded man smoking Huqqa belongs to India, dated 20^th century. He is depicted while preparing the huqqa. Coal is placed to his right. Huqqa usually work by passing charcoal-heated air through the tobacco mixture and ultimately through a water-filled chamber.

Painting in wooden frame with glass representing an old Pathan seated on a floor rug in a room with a bolster behind, enjoying huqqa. A book- stand towards his right, and jars, vase and ewers in the background, early 20th century.

In this richly coloured miniature painting from Rajasthan, a royal lady is standing on a white terrace. She holds a hand-held Huqqa in one hand and its mouthpiece in other is about to be put in her mouth. She is dressed in bright saffron angrakha and adorned with pearl jewels, from the 20th century.