Huqqa of Emperor Jahangir

Tobacco smoking was introduced in India by the Portuguese during Emperor Akbar's period (1526–1605). In spite of Akbar's effort to ban smoking, it became popular during his son Jahangir's reign (1605–1628). The smoking of tobacco through a water base was believed to be less harmful. Huqqa or Hookah, a Persian word, usually has four parts; huqqa base is the water container; hollow stem, which is divided into two tubes to connect the huqqa base with chilam (tobacco container) and smoking pipe is placed on the neck of huqqa base. The third portion is the chilam with detachable lid to place it on top of one of the hallow tube. The last piece is a smoking tube, which is attached to the tip of the second tube. An interesting practice regarding the Muhnal (mouth-piece) is that it was detachable enabling each user to use his own muhnal.

Artisans were inspired by the popularity of Huqqa smoking and created many innovatively shaped huqqas – ovoid, spherical, curvaceous and bell shaped, or in the shape of mango, bird or doll. These huqqas were made of glass with gold and jewel studded decoration, silver enamelled or jade carved. The highly ornamental silver and jade huqqas are often found in many museums collection around the globe.

This inscribed jade narval shaped huqqa is a very rare piece. Calligraphy is inscribed on silver strip, which has been elegantly fixed on the chilam and pedestal. The upper edge and lower portion of chilam and upper portion of huqqa's pedestal is inscribed in Arabic and Persian in Nastaliq script.

The inscription reads:

قُلۡ هُوَ اللّٰہُ اَحَدٌ

اَللّٰہُ الصَّمَدُ
لَمۡ یَلِدۡۙ وَ لَمۡ یُوۡلَدۡ
وَ لَمۡ یَکُنۡ لَّهّ کُفُوًا اَحَدٌ

Transliteration:
Bismillāhi -r-Raḥmāni -r-Raḥīm
1 Qul huwa Allāhu aḥad
2 Allahu -ṣ-ṣamad
3 Lam yalid wa lam yūlad

4 Wa lam yaku(n)l lahu kufuwan aḥad

The English translation thus reads:

Say: Allah, the One and Only; [1] Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; [2] He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; [3] And there is none comparable unto Him. [4]^[3][4]

The inscription on the top of the huqqa reads:

پادشاہ جہنگیر ۱۰۳۲ ھ

This roughly translates to:

"Emperor Jahangir, 1032 Hijri"

This Hijri year converts to 1626 AD.

• Closeup of Jahangir's Huqqa
• Floral pattern on the Huqqa
• Pipe Fitter
• Inscription on the Huqqa
• Inscription on the top of Huqqa

Surahi

The royal karkhanas (manufacturing workshops) established by the Islamic rulers were the main manufacturing centres for producing all objects which were required by royalty. Akbar and his successors continued and upgraded this system and under their personal supervision exquistive jewellery items, imaginative armoury articles and a variety of utilitarian artefacts were crafted. Immacutavely carved out of jade these artefacts are often studded with jewels like rubies, diamonds, emeralds and jade. These objects are great examples of the emperor's high taste and the skill of the artisans. Among various uttarian artefacts, the surahi (flask), which was used for keeping wine or water, is a rare example of jade carving. Many vessels are illustrated in the Persian and Indian miniature paintings of the seventeenth-eighteenth century.

With a globular body and long neck, this surahi is an outstanding example of jade carving. It is inlaid with diamond shaped jade pieces and decorated with gold wire. Each of the joints is beautifully decorated with six petal flower motifs, which have been worked with gold leaf covering and glass. The neck portion of surahi is made of small rectangular jade pieces on which row of diamond design has been worked out. A ring of red stones on the lower portion of neck enhanced the charm of the surahi.

Cup of Emperor Akbar Shah II

Cups and vases made under supervision were immaculately carved out of jade and often studded with jewels. Among all the exquisite examples, the most unusual object displayed in the jade utility section is the cup, on which the name of the Mughal Emperor Akbar II Shah (1760–1837) is inscribed in Persian. The inscription reads 'Shah Akbar'. He was the second son of Shah Alam II and the father of Bahadur Shah Zafar II. Light green cups which can be seen in Mughal paintings which might be interpreted as being East Asian green celadon ware. However, no such celadons have yet been discovered in a Mughal context. Floral motifs were beautifully used in stylised and realistic manner. Some of the flowers identified as Iris and Narcissus. The many flowers on the plant are seen from different angles and in different stages of their blossoming.

Archer's rings

Specially designed 'archer's ring' was worn by an archer in the thumb of the right or left hand at the time of archery. While pulling the string for shooting the arrow, it helped in safe guarding the thumb, so that the string of bow would not damage the fingers. It is made of whitish nephrite jade and dark green jade. It is adorned by floral motifs.

Other items

Other objects include studded plated, betel and spice boxes, cups, bowls, spoon, plaques, tumblers etc. All these artefacts help in understanding the artistic taste of patrons and craftsmanship of artisans prevalent during the 17–19th Century CE. An ornate jade armlet of 18th century is inlaid with ruby in the center and surrounded by emeralds. An 18th century jade cosmetic casket is in the shape of the mango with an enamelled silver lid. A plate of the 18th century is inlaid with precious stones and gold wires.

• Spice box, Late Mughal period
• Items of Jade
• Different Use
• Jewellery items of jade displayed in the gallery
• Spoon made in Jade
• Ornate Jade Armlet
• Jade handle with the dagger
• Jade Plate
• Different Handles of the Museum
• A Jade handle
• Jade Bowl inlaid with gold and diamonds