An Indian or Sri Lankan Carved and Painted Ivory Hookah Pipe
An Indian or Sri Lankan Carved and Painted Ivory Hookah Pipe Stem
The end piece formed as a trumpeting elephants head
Circa 1800
Size: 34.5 cm long – 13½ ins long
The end piece formed as a trumpeting elephants head
Circa 1800
Size: 34.5 cm long – 13½ ins long
The west has always viewed the hookah as an important object within Indian society, whether as a symbol of pleasure, decadence, reconciliation or the focus of rules concerning caste purity which tolerated or forbade the sharing of mouth pieces. A Victorian letter written to ‘The People of India’ comments on a picture of a ‘Gujar’
( Gujaratiman ) holding a hookah, ‘Gujars are much addicted to smoking, particularly ganja ….. this has a peculiarly exciting and intoxicating quality.’
( Gujaratiman ) holding a hookah, ‘Gujars are much addicted to smoking, particularly ganja ….. this has a peculiarly exciting and intoxicating quality.’
An Indian or Sri Lankan Carved and Painted Ivory Hookah Pipe
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