Description:

The design of birds forms a monster mask (taotie), like mask designs seen on ancient bronzes. The huqqah base is a form that originated in the Middle East. It was probably made for the Chinese court as a glamorous, foreign-inspired object.In the Middle East, a�huqqah is a pipe used for smoking, with a water container (called a huqqah base) and a long flexible pipe.

Glass, mould-blown with incised decoration filled with gold
Height: 18.9 cm, diameter: 17.0 cm, neck diameter: 9.1 cm
Four-character seal-script mark of Qianlong reign (1736-1795) in a single square, inlaid with gold

Chinese Description:

饕餮纹饰水烟壶 中国，清乾隆朝 (1736-1795) 水烟壶的形制来自中东地区，而这器物的鸟形刻纹却又显见取材于青铜器的饕餮纹饰。这件宫廷用品揉合了外来的设计灵感与古代工艺文化，可算是内廷玻璃厂别树一格的珍品。 玻璃，有模吹制，缕刻镶金 款识镶金，双方框内刻有「乾隆年制」四字

Creator: Unknown

Date: Qianlong reign period (1736-1795)

Copyright: Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives

Object ID:N4543