Title : Antique Hookah Base
Accession No : 59/7/1385
This is an antique hookah pot, which has a small mouth, narrow neck and a round body. The body of the pot has large floral motifs inlaid in silver on it. The neck of the pot consists of smaller leaf motifs.
Gallery
Provenance
- StateAndhra Pradesh
Dimensions
- Measurement (CMS)17.7 x 14.8
Significance
- Socio economicBidri work is practiced primarily in the Bidar region of North West Hyderabad and parts of Andhra Pradesh. It began with workmanship under the Royal Patronage as the artwork is said to have come from Turkey - and through exchange of people and commodities it was brought and founds niche artists in this area who were well-paid and became recognised and acknowledged artisans.
- ArtisticThe Bidri artwork focusses on creating 'beauty in contrast' hence, the contrast is seen in the colors of the base and the motifs inlaid on it. It is cast from an alloy of mostly zinc with copper, tin and lead. The vessels so decorated are overlaid or inlaid with silver, but also sometimes brass and gold. A paste that contains Sal Ammoniac is then applied which turns the alloy dark black but leaving the silver, brass or gold unaffected.