INDIAN NARGHILE BASE WITH BIDRI DECORATION made of a metal alloy finely inlaid with silver (bidri), with a very wide base extending into a narrowed neck and a slightly flared opening, decorated with stylised fishnet and lotus petals, and floral garlands. India, Bidar, late 19th century. A SILVER-INLAID BIDRIWARE HOOKAH BASE, INDIA, LATE 19TH CENTURY. HEIGHT. 18 CM (7 1/16 IN.) NOTE According to Susan Stronge, the shape of this huqqa appears to be typical of Gaya in Bengal, a town in northern India now in the state of Bihar (Susan Stronge, Bidri Ware. Inlaid Metalwork from India, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1985, cat. 89, p. 89). Two similar bases are in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (inv. nos. IS.629-1883 and IS.630-1883).