{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O67379"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O67379/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MR0684/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MR0684/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2020MR0684","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AU3622","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O67379/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O67379","accessionNumber":"IS.39-1976","objectType":"Huqqa","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This base of a water pipe (huqqa) was made in India in the first 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, as here, or silver and brass, or 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 vessel with a broad central frieze on the body inlaid with silver wire in peacock feather motifs. A water motif is used as a border on the moulding encircling the base, on teh shoulders and on the projecting rim encircling the middle of the neck, in all cased framed by narrow borders of rectangles between horizontal wire inlays.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Zinc alloy","id":"AAT11000"},{"text":"silver","id":"x30638"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Images Online","id":"THES48937"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Personal accessories","id":"THES48912"},{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2020MR0684","2006AU3622"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES374941"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Huqqa base","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Deccan","id":"x31972"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"possibly"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"first half 18th century","earliest":"1700-01-01","latest":"1750-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"16.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"15.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"A 'huqqa' is a smoking device that consists of a small container for tobacco leaves mounted on a base. The base is filled with water and the smoke is drawn through the water, and along a tube .","historicalContext":"Bought from Mr F. S. Fletcher in 1976","briefDescription":"Bell shaped Huqqa base inlaid with silver, Deccan, 1750-1800","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Susan Stronge, Bidri Ware. Inlaid Metalwork from India, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1985, cat. 12, p. 50 (illustrated p. 51)"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Susan Stronge, in The Indian Heritage. Court Life and Arts under Mughal Rule, V&A, 1982, cat. 475, p.141, ISBN 0906969263."},{"reference":{"text":"Skelton, Robert, et al, <i>The Indian Heritage. Court life and Arts under Mughal Rule</i> London: The Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982","id":"AUTH352798"},"details":"p. 141, cat. no. 475","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"geometric pattern","id":"AAT165213"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IS.39-1976"],"accessionNumberNum":"39","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1976,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-23","recordCreationDate":"2002-09-12","availableToBook":true}}