{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O154753"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O154753/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MR0698/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MR0698/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2020MR0698","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O154753/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O154753","accessionNumber":"IS.19-1980","objectType":"Huqqa base","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This base of a water pipe (huqqa) was made in India in the second half of the 18th century and belongs to a class of metalwares known as \"bidri\". Bidri is a technique known only in the Indian subcontinent, and takes its name from the city of Bidar, in the present-day state of Karnatika, where it is thought to have originated. Surviving pieces date from the late 16th or early 17th century, and it is still being made today. Bidri objects are cast from an alloy in which zinc predominates, though small amounts of lead, copper and tin may also be found. The decoration may be inlaid with silver, or silver and brass,  or, as here, overlaid with silver wires hammered onto a cross-hatched surface. The final stage of the process is to apply a saline mud paste over the entire surface which changes the dull grey of the alloy to a matt black without affecting the decoration. The exact chemical process which takes place is still unidentified. After removal of the mud paste, the surface of the piece would be rubbed with oil.","physicalDescription":"Bell shaped huqqa base inlaid in silver with imbricated motifs of the upper section of circles filled with a small circle at the centre and vertical stripes. The top of the shoulders of the base is inlaid with a floral scroll border. A silver thread has been added to the inside of the neck, possibly in Europe, to convert it into a lampshade, and a thick metal plate is soldered to the bottom to provide additional stability.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"},{"text":"zinc alloy","id":"AAT11000"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2020MR0698"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES374939"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Huqqa base","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Deccan","id":"x31972"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca.1750-1800","earliest":"1745-01-01","latest":"1800-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"15.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"14.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Susan Stronge, Bidri Ware, Victoria & Albert Museum, 1985, cat. 13, p. 50"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IS.19-1980"],"accessionNumberNum":"19","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1980,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-18","recordCreationDate":"2008-05-15","availableToBook":true}}