Goanese Pipe
Goa India
Circa 1780
This extremely elaborate silver and gold mounted pipe was carved in Goa for the Ottoman Market. It is in the form of a Chibouk, a Turkish long stemmed pipe and separates into a number of sections which fit into the original tooled red leather case.
Length 55 cm (21.5)
The style of the carved figure, upon whose head rests the bowl of the pipe, has traditionally been attributed with Hindu influences; these creatures with the upper bodies of humans and lower of scrolling sea serpents have been identified as nagas and naginis; the auspicious serpent like spirits of rivers and lakes who offer protection from danger. Amin Jaffer, however, (see biblio.) interprets some of these figures as a continuation of the Western architectural tradition of using the human form as columns. This tradition was widely adopted in the supports of fashionable furniture in Europe during the latter part of the 17th century and was incorporated into furniture and other luxuries commissioned by colonials in India. This caryatid figure, the shoulders of scrolling capitals, rising from a circle of acanthus leaves is of this tradition and the swags falling from shoulders of the putti which together form the bowl of the pipe also point to this Western architectural heritage.
Bibliography:
Luxury Goods from India by Aminn Jaffer, V & A publication 2002
The Pipe by Georges Herment pub. 1954