18th 19th Century Mughal Copper Brass Yak Horn-Shaped Huqqa Hookah Base Antique

A rare huqqa base with a curved and faceted cylindrical copper body imitating the shape of a yak horn. Embellished with overlaid openwork brass plaques decorated with meandering stylised palmettes and vegetal scrolls, the body plain, with a cylindrical spout with reinforced rim to the side.

Quite unusual in their shape and design, yak horn-shaped huqqa bases such as this started attracting the attention of Western visitors travelling through Kashmir and the Punjab hills in the 19th century. The first published source in which they are mentioned is the travelling account of Count and Countess de Ujfalvy, who travelled in those areas in 1881. They acquired one of these huqqas in Skardo (specific location remains unknown) and mentioned that there were several others.

This example is difficult to date but is c.1800 perhaps produced in Baltistan.

Has patination and wear commensurate with age, the spout wobbles slightly but is secure.

Height: 17.5 cm - Max diameter: 12 cm - Width: 8 cm