Hookah Collection

Taking tea in the Harem. Creator: Ernst, Rudolf (1854-1932)
Taking tea in the Harem. Private Collection

Algeria - Woman smoking a nargile pipe
Algeria - woman smoking a nargile (Hookah Pipe)

Painting of a princess listening to female musicians
Painting of a princess with a huqqa listening to female musicians in a palace garden, from Guler in the Punjab, from the V&As collection

Turkish Lady on a settee smoking
A Turkish lady reclining quizzically on an Ottoman settee, smoking a narghile pipe, whilst drinking coffee

Alice in Wonderland, Alice and a caterpillar
Alice in Wonderland, Alice meets a caterpillar sitting on a mushroom, smoking a hookah. Date: early 20th century

Thessaloniki, Greece - Turkish Coffee Shop Waiter. Date: circa 1910s

Izmir (Smyrna), Turkey - Harem Women
Harem women from Smyrna (Izmir), Turkey

Interior of the Harem with a scribe. Date: circa 1910s

Egyptian Lady of the Harem
An Egyptian Lady of the Harem, reclining on a couch and smoking a nargile pipe Date: 1910s

Old & New Pipes / Heath
The old way of smoking a pipe & the new way: an upright Georgian gent smokes his long stemmed clay pipe while a semi-recumbent Regency fop, puffs away on his hookah

Persian Village, South Persia (Iran)
Scene in a Persian Village, South Persia (Iran). Date: circa 1910s

Morocco - Interior of an Arab house
Three women in the interior of a Morrocan Arab house

Shisha Pipes, Khan el-Khalili bazaar (Souk), Cairo, Egypt

Qatar, Doha, Souq Waqif, Sheesha (water pipe)

A Bulgarian soldier smoking a Hookah in the 19th century, from El Mundo en la Mano pub. 1875
5242567 A Bulgarian soldier smoking a Hookah in the 19th century, from El Mundo en la Mano pub. 1875.

Portrait of a young Egyptian woman - Photograph second half of the 19th century
CSO4984605 Portrait of a young Egyptian woman - Photograph second half of the 19th century -; (add.info.: Portrait of a young Egyptian woman - Photograph second half of the 19th century)

Portraits of women from Sudan - Photograph second half of the 19th century
CSO4984578 Portraits of women from Sudan - Photograph second half of the 19th century -; (add.info.: Portraits of women from Sudan - Photograph second half of the 19th century -); Photo © DDF

Princess and attendant in trompe l'oeil window, c.1765 (opaque w/c and gold on paper)
XOS5874007 Princess and attendant in trompe l'oeil window, c.1765 (opaque w/c and gold on paper) by Khan, Aqil (active mid-1700s); 12.5x7.8 cm; Cleveland Museum of Art, OH

Shah Allum, Mongol, reviews the troops of the English East India Company, 1781. Coloured engraving of the 19th century
NWI4826243 Shah Allum, Mongol, reviews the troops of the English East India Company, 1781. Coloured engraving of the 19th century.; (add.info.: Shah Allum, Mongol)

The outdoor banquet, curtain Russian games, detail of the tent and characters
JEB4881787 The outdoor banquet, curtain Russian games, detail of the tent and characters. Tapestry by Jean-Baptiste Le Prince (Jean Baptiste Leprince)

Traditional costumes from the Middle East: Libyan Prince (left), Lebanon and Muslim man from Damascus
NWI4877929 Traditional costumes from the Middle East: Libyan Prince (left), Lebanon and Muslim man from Damascus, Syria smoking the narguile

Egypt, Cairo: Cook cruise, Nile side, sweepers sitting on the sidewalk smoke the shisha, 1900
LUX4778853 Egypt, Cairo: Cook cruise, Nile side, sweepers sitting on the sidewalk smoke the shisha, 1900; (add.info.: Egypt, Cairo: Cook cruise, Nile side)

France, Ile-de-France, Paris (75): genre scene, three women in odalisque smoking the narguile, 1860
LUX4816773 France, Ile-de-France, Paris (75): genre scene, three women in odalisque smoking the narguile, 1860; (add.info.: France, Ile-de-France, Paris (75): genre scene

Greece, Crete: Three French soldiers of the 122nd century in the yard of their house smoke the narguile, 1908
LUX4805563 Greece, Crete: Three French soldiers of the 122nd century in the yard of their house smoke the narguile, 1908; (add.info.: Greece)

Portrait of a young egyptian girl reclining in a chair. She is wearing ethnic dress
3572310 Portrait of a young egyptian girl reclining in a chair. She is wearing ethnic dress and is posing in the studio smoking the narghile

Persian Lady - Persian noble woman in jeweled turban, fur-trimmed jacket, tunic and pantaloons, smoking a hookah pipe
FLO4723873 Persian Lady - Persian noble woman in jeweled turban, fur-trimmed jacket, tunic and pantaloons, smoking a hookah pipe

Album "Meine mittelmeer-reise 1910": Interior of the Cafe Maure in Tunis with man smoking the shisha
3562337 Album "Meine mittelmeer-reise 1910": Interior of the Cafe Maure in Tunis with man smoking the shisha (narghile), 1910 (print on double-weight paper); (add.info.: Tunis, Cafe Maure)

Greece, Crete: 2 French soldiers smoke the narguile and a third drink a glass of wine, 1905 - number on cap: 122nd
LUX4770682 Greece, Crete: 2 French soldiers smoke the narguile and a third drink a glass of wine, 1905 - number on cap: 122nd; (add.info.: Greece)

Indian Rajah - Indian rajah in bejeweled robes and hat, smoking a hookah pipe
FLO4723667 Indian Rajah - Indian rajah in bejeweled robes and hat, smoking a hookah pipe and holding a peacock feather fan - Handcoloured woodcut from " Moeurs

Pipes for smoking tobacco (litho)
8663833 Pipes for smoking tobacco (litho) by German School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Pipes for smoking tobacco from various parts of the world)

An Indian woman at a gala seated on a rich carpet with containers of betelnut and perfume
FLO4623936 An Indian woman at a gala seated on a rich carpet with containers of betelnut and perfume, attended by an ayah or servants with punya (fan), pawn and snake hookah pipe

Fath Ali Shah, second Qajar (Qadjar) emperor or Shah of Iran (1772-1832). Illustration from Guillaume Antoine Olivier
FLO4723035 Fath Ali Shah, second Qajar (Qadjar) emperor or Shah of Iran (1772-1832). Illustration from Guillaume Antoine Olivier (1756-1814) Travels in the Ottoman Empire, Egypt and Persia, 1801

Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-1880) (wood engraving)
530483 Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-1880) (wood engraving); (add.info.: Yakub (Yakoob) Khan, ruler of Afghanistan, at a review at Gundamuck, 30 May 1879

Egypt, Cairo: Chechia traders in front of their shops, smoking narguile, 1892
LUX4801154 Egypt, Cairo: Chechia traders in front of their shops, smoking narguile, 1892; (add.info.: Egypt, Cairo: Chechia traders in front of their shops, smoking narguile)

Hoqq-burdar or pipe bearer, with hookah tobacco pipe and Persian carpet. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by an
FLO4565553 Hoqq-burdar or pipe bearer, with hookah tobacco pipe and Persian carpet. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by an unknown artist from " Asiatic Costumes," Ackermann, London

A Bulgarian Soldier Smoking A Hookah In The 19Th Century. From El Mundo En La Mano Published 1875 ©UIG/Leemage
UIG5420626 A Bulgarian Soldier Smoking A Hookah In The 19Th Century. From El Mundo En La Mano Published 1875 ©UIG/Leemage.

Greece, Crete: Oriental life scene, a European with mustache smokes the narguile in the shade of an olive tree, 1908
LUX4764543 Greece, Crete: Oriental life scene, a European with mustache smokes the narguile in the shade of an olive tree, 1908; (add.info.: Greece, Crete: Oriental life scene)

Tunisia, La Goulette: Salon arabizing of an officer in garrison. An officer's wife in the middle of hangings
LUX4766267 Tunisia, La Goulette: Salon arabizing of an officer in garrison. An officer's wife in the middle of hangings and hookles

The Maharajah of Benares, 1876. Creator: Unknown
The Maharajah of Benares, 1876. Visit of the future King Edward VII to India. The Maharajah [Ishwari Prasad Narayan Singh] is described by the "Daily Telegraph" correspondent as being a

A Festive Gathering, c1163 AH/AD 1750. Creator: Unknown
A Festive Gathering, c1163 AH/AD 1750. This painting celebrates the pleasures of smoking and partaking in good company. The composition is made up of animated vignettes

Costumes de Différents Pays, Nabab de la Côte du Coromandel, c1797. Creators: Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur
Costumes de Differents Pays, Nabab de la Cote du Coromandel, c1797

Base for a Water Pipe (huqqa) in the Form of a Dancer (image 2 of 3), between c.1750 and c.1900. Creator: Unknown
Base for a Water Pipe (huqqa) in the Form of a Dancer (image 2 of 3), between c.1750 and c.1900

Girl of Northern India; Black Bear Shooting in the Himalayas, 1875. Creator: Unknown
Girl of Northern India; Black Bear Shooting in the Himalayas, 1875. From Illustrated Travels by H.W. Bates. [Cassell, Petter, and Galpin, c1880, London] and Galpin

Raja Dip Singh, between c1775 and c1800. Creator: Unknown
Raja Dip Singh, between c1775 and c1800

Women Playing a Game of Chess, c1700. Creator: Unknown
Women Playing a Game of Chess, c1700

Untitled (Gentleman In Eastern Costume With Nubian Model), 1858. Creator: Roger Fenton
Untitled (Gentleman In Eastern Costume With Nubian Model), 1858

Algerine Women, 1857. Creator: Unknown
Algerine Women, 1857. Group of women smoking a huqqa in North Africa. From "Illustrated London News", 1857

Musical Performance (Recto); Page of Calligraphy (Verso), c1750. Creator: Unknown
Musical Performance (Recto); Page of Calligraphy (Verso), c1750

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"Exploring the Enchanting World of Hookah: A Journey Through Time and Cultures" Step into a realm where tradition meets indulgence, as we embark on an enchanting journey through the captivating world of hookah. In a painting reminiscent of Arabian nights, a princess delicately listens to the melodious tunes played by female musicians, their melodies intertwining with swirling smoke from the nargile pipe. The scene evokes images of opulence and elegance that have long been associated with this ancient pastime. Drawing inspiration from Lewis Carroll's timeless tale, Alice in Wonderland takes a curious puff from her hookah while engaging in conversation with a wise caterpillar. In this whimsical encounter, she discovers that there is more to be found within oneself than meets the eye. Traveling further eastward to Algeria, we witness a woman gracefully smoking her nargile pipe amidst vibrant colors and intricate patterns adorning her surroundings. This glimpse into Algerian culture showcases how hookah has become intertwined with daily life and social gatherings. A Turkish lady reclines on a settee, exuding gracefulness as she leisurely enjoys her smoke-filled moments. This portrayal highlights Turkey's rich history and its deep-rooted connection to hookah culture. Venturing into Thessaloniki, Greece - known for its cultural diversity - we find ourselves in a Turkish coffee shop where waiters skillfully prepare aromatic brews alongside patrons enjoying their flavorful shisha sessions. Here, traditions merge seamlessly across borders. Journeying towards Izmir (Smyrna), Turkey - once home to an extravagant harem - we catch glimpses of harem women indulging in tea accompanied by fragrant clouds emanating from their pipes. These intimate moments offer insight into the hidden lives within these lavish palaces. The Harem comes alive again through Ernst Rudolf's artistry; he captures an interior scene filled with intrigue as scribes document the secrets and stories whispered within these walls.