It has been said that huqqas were a taste of the noble men. Moreover the designs of the huqqas were to a large extent influenced by the west. The huqqas which were found in the Mughal period consisted of a round base, a chillam and cover (sarpush), an intermediate ring and a mouthpiece. The entire outer surface was covered with translucent green and blue enamel set with diamonds and rubies, and the interior is of silver but heavily gilt; the flashy effect of diamonds on dark blue differed profoundly. Meenakari in huqqa is also well known. The meenakari work in huqqa comes in various hues and different animal motifs are used in them. The various types of Meenakari huqqa that are found are silver-gilt enamelled wash basin type huqqa, robustly proportioned silver huqqa with melon like segments. The pointed petals of the blossoms indicate a late seventeenth-century Deccani origin. A second round silver gilt huqqa has the delicate curves and exquisite decor of the early eighteenth century. Its blossom-strewn surface brings to mind painted cottons, while the unusually warm tones of white, yellow and green are the colours of imperial Mughal tile work. The round huqqas of the Mughal period resembled the silver pandans to a large extent. This article is a stub. You can enrich by adding more information to it. Send your Write Up to content@indianetzone.com |