Until 1st May, 2025
Buy it now
A SILVER-INLAID COPPER HUQQA BASE, SKARDO, BALTISTAN, 18TH CENTURY
Lot 606 - FAS0425
Kashmir, Upper Indus Valley. The waterpipe base is fashioned from a curved and fluted copper cylinder, applied to the shoulder with a spout to connect to the intermediary tube and mouthpiece. The body decorated with ornamental brass and copper openwork mounts with meandering floral scroll and arabesques that recall the decoration of Iranian and Kashmiri metalware. The body of the pipe is flat-inlaid in silver with an inscription.
Provenance: From a private collection in France, acquired in Leh, Ladakh.
Condition: Good condition with wear, traces of use, and manufacturing irregularities. Expected dents, small nicks here and there, few dings, and some warping. The leather case with extensive old wear, traces of use and losses.
Weight: 1,609.4 (the huqqa), 217.5 g (the cup)
Dimensions: Height 20 cm (the huqqa), 10.8 cm (the cup)
With an original fitted leather case. (2)
This huqqa derives its shape from the horns of yaks, creatures indigenous to the plateaus of Kashmir. It is thanks to a traveler’s account by the Count and Countess de Ujfalvy published in 1883 that we have a description of the existence of such huqqas in Skardo, which were also produced in wood and steel. The overlaid designs vary but usually center on floral motifs.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related copper and brass huqqa case, Ladakh, 18th century, 18.3 cm high, in the British Museum, registration number 2017,3038.69. Compare a closely related Huqqa base in the form of a Yak’s horn, Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Skardo, circa 1775-1800, 19.53 cm high, in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession number M.82.225.1.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s London, 24 October 2018, lot 150
Estimate: GBP 12,000 or approx. EUR 20,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A copper and brass overlaid huqqa base (skardo), Baltistan, Kashmir, Upper Indus Valley, 18th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, material, ornamentation, and size (19 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s London, 8 April 2011, lot 330
Price: GBP 18,750 or approx. EUR 38,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A steel, brass and copper Huqqa base, Skardo, Baltistan, 18th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, ornamentation, and size (19.5 cm).
Natural Light Images for Logged-in Users Only
You can find images of this item taken under natural daylight below. Click on an image to zoom in or save.
If there are no natural light images for this item, please email us at office@zacke.at or use the request form below.
Log in or sign up to view the natural light images.
Click here to request more information on this lot.
How to Buy Online
You must log in or create an online account in order to buy items from the shop.
Click the red 'Buy it Now' button to buy this item. You will then be able to download your invoice and receive instructions about how to pay. Prices include Buyer's Premium.
If you would like to buy multiple items at the same time, add the items you want to your cart. You will then be able to check out with multiple items simultaneously.
Items in your cart are not reserved. Please complete the purchase process promptly to secure the items.
How to Buy Offline
If you would like to buy one of these items outside of the online shop, please contact us at office@zacke.at or +43 (1) 532 04 52.
Our Terms and Conditions
As part of our ongoing efforts to keep our auctions fair and transparent, we encourage you to read our terms and conditions thoroughly. We urge you to read through §34-50) to ensure you understand them. These terms are specifically designed to protect all serious and committed buyers from bidding against non-payers who attempt to inflate prices without the intent of paying their auction bills.
For further reading about non-payers at auction, go here: https://www.zacke.at/aboutnonpayers/.
The main points include the following:
- Bidders must complete their due diligence and clarify all questions about the objects before the auction. After the auction, Zacke will not answer questions from bidders unless the purchase price has been paid in full. Of course, this does not apply to questions concerning shipping, insurance, customs, etc.
- A sale cancellation of any kind after the fall of the hammer is not possible. The only exception to this fundamental rule is our guarantee of authenticity [the Guarantee].
- A Guarantee Claim, however, can only be raised after the purchase price has been paid in full by the buyer and within 45 days after the auction day.
If you have any questions about our policies, please get in touch with us at office@zacke.at.
By placing a bid, you agree to our Terms of Auction and Terms and Conditions.
