This rare inscribed bell shaped huqqa base is abundantly decorated with inlaid silver. It is in extremely good condition giving that very little silver inlay has been lost. The inlay comprises of diagonal bands of stylised flowers around the main body and neck of the huqqa. The silver inlay of the base and shoulder resembles a band of stylised tulip heads. The designers of bidri objects often borrowed motifs from textiles, architectural ornament and many other sources, adapting them and changing their patterns according to their own creativity and their patrons’ tastes. The base is inlaid in silver three times in nasta’liq script and dated AH 1256 which corresponds either to 1811 in Bangla calendar or 1840 in the Hijra calendar.
