This hookah base has a bulbous body and bronze mount around its neck. It is painted with floral sprays and scrolling peonies in underglaze blue. Made in China, this hookah base was made for export to the Islamic markets. The smoking of the hookah or water pipe was a form of entertainment for both men and women in various parts of the Islamic world. The imitation of Chinese ceramics is a theme found throughout the history of Islamic ceramics, not only in terms if motifs but also in technology. However, the influence was also not just one-sided as the Chinese potters adapted the ceramic shapes of other cultures to cater to the tastes and needs of their Islamic clients.
