A "Yak's Horn" copper and brass huqqa base, Skardo, Baltistan, circa 1800, with brass spout and brass fittings at top and bottom incised with vigorous openwork floral and foliate scrolling decoration, the plain copper body of the huqqa base slightly facetted, 19.5 cm. highBaltistan is a mountainous region mainly in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of the northern part of Pakistan, in the Karakoram mountains. The 19th century travelling couple, Count and Countess de Ujfalvy travelled there and to the Punjab Hills and Kashmir in 1881. They were the first to identify this particular type of huqqa, in the shape of a yak's horn, which they acquired at Skardo and was said to have been in the possession of the royal family of Baltistan. Like ours, their huqqa base was intricately carved and pierced with brass and copper mounts. Mark Zebrowski discusses this rare group in Gold, Silver and Bronze from Mughal India, 1997, pp. 243-245 nos 417 & 418.BibliographyZebrowski, M., Gold, Silver and Bronze from Mughal India, London, 1997Please refer to department for condition report