TSM Accession: 1592
Pleach No: PIF/000DMP76
Title: A King Smoking Hookah
Style: Deccani Miniature
Artist: Unknown
Medium: Water colour on paper
Dimensions: 24 x 14 cms
Period: 16th / 17th Century CE
Rights: Telangana State Archaeological Museum, Hyderabad
Documented by: Pleach India Foundation, Hyderabad
A man, likely a ruler, lounging on a luxurious carpet with a golden bolster.
He holds a sword and a hookah pipe, symbolizing power and leisure. The white floor with yellow grills suggests a gallery space. Various objects are displayed: a flowerpot, a dagger, a sword in its sheath, a shield, containers for perfume and cups. The background showcases intricate details – a blue border along the floor, steps leading down, lamps with candles, and a richly decorated upper wall with hidden niches.
