RARE Brass Antique Turkish 4 Hookah Smoking Water Pipe Start Price USD 2,499.99 Current Price USD 2,499.99 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Friday, July 18, 2008 End Time Monday, July 28, 2008 Location Comstock Park, MI See more about 'RARE Brass Antique Turkish 4 Hookah Smoking Water Pipe' Description SquareTrade © AP6.0   Payments Shipping Returns About Us Legal Search Our Auctions: RARE Brass Antique Turkish 4' Hookah Smoking Water Pipe Powered by Image Logik Hosting Technology. Click to learn more. This listing is for a rare-to-market antique handcrafted brass hookah. Hookahs are also known as shisha, nargilah, or narghile, et al, depending on Middle Eastern region. This unique item stands four feet tall and weighs approximately thirteen pounds unpackaged. It has wood-interlined piping from base to bowl. The bowl is ceramic-lined and holds approximately one ounce of tobacco. It also includes hand etched niello decoration.The idea of water pipes—hookahs, originated in India using coconuts. As the concept of hookahs fully developed, it made its way into Iran and rapidly spread into the Arab regions, and most notably in Turkey. There, the hookah became one of the oldest and deeply rooted traditions in Turkey, and reached its relegated popularity during the Ottoman Empire in the time of Muratt II. The Turks even created rules on how one should light a hookah.Upper class ladies and debutantes of the 19th and early 20th centuries thought it fashionable to smoke and be photographed smoking from a hookah. However, as cigarettes and cigars became more accommodating and available, hookah smoking lost its popularity.Lewis Carroll’s, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” introduced the hookah to Western civilization when Alice peeped over the edge of the giant mushroom to see a large, blue caterpillar puffing from a hookah, oblivious to her. Hookah smoking has been experiencing a resurgence of popularity recently around the world and especially in the United States as the health risks of cigarettes and cigars are more apparent. Smoking tobacco from a hookah is more natural and does not contain all the nastier ingredients cigarettes and cigars contain. It is also a much more social event to share a hookah.There is a wealth of information regarding hookahs and hookah history. Simply type in hookah to any search engine and be prepared to be wowed. This is some lucky person’s chance to own an exquisite piece of that history to wow their own friends.The age of this hookah remains a mystery. The WIW2U Group of appraisers estimated that this hookah was probably made in India in the late 19th century to early 20th century, as exemplified by the niello decorations on the hookah. They were unable to decipher the writing on the hookah from the pictures that were emailed them. They made their assessment looking at many of the same pictures you are looking at today. They only confirmed what Arabic businesses associates had suggested to our seller a few years ago when he took it to them. These associates were likewise unable to decipher the writing, citing its age and dialect as being not known to them.Our seller has owned this hookah for twenty-five years. It was old and was in the same condition then as it is today. He used it a handful of times when he first got it and had it on display in his home for the first couple of years. It has been stored, disassembled in a box since then.This hookah is missing one of the four candle holders and arms, but they can be positioned in such a way that three looks right or correct. There is some discoloration/corrosion on the egg base as is normal with old metals/brass. A small/short crack in the metal is on one of the mid-sections where they mate together. Part of the wood tube on one of the mid-sections is broken away. A number of the small brass tassels and wire retainers are missing. Please note that the hose is not original—it was a gift from our seller's Arabic business associate after he showed him the hookah, knowing the original hose was missing. The hose holder is also broken in two pieces—our seller used a piece of wire to hold them together for benefit of the pictures.Otherwise, this work of old world craftsmanship is a sight to behold, and is one of very few nearly complete hookahs of its age to be known to still exist. Our seller tells us when polished, it shines with the brilliance of a desert sunset. It was always the center of attention and conversation at his parties. Still functional, this piece of history will most certainly continue to appreciate in value.Feel like you’re traveling back in time to experience a time and place shrouded in mystery and lore by puffing on the hookah. Be the caterpillar…Rare unique pieces like this weren’t made for just anyone. Decipher the writing on this hookah to unlock its secrets and solve the mystery our seller was unable to solve. Whose hands created it for the world to enjoy? Was it’s crafting ordered by someone of fame, fortune, or importance? What do the crossed swords represent?Unfortunately, this hookah has no place in our seller's life at this time, except stored in a box. He has not been able to smoke for years due to asthma and is placing this on the open market to the world through our store in hopes that it will find a loving and appreciative home with someone who will enjoy displaying it in their home or business for all to see. It is too beautiful and brilliant to be shuttered in the dark. He want others to experience being the caterpillar… Best of Luck!**NOTE: The photograph of the painting of the priest puffing on a hookah is not this hookah, as far as our seller knows. It was the only historic photograph of a hookah he could find in his research with the closest likeness to his hookah in trying to determine its era and craftsmanship. He included it for your enjoyment.No additional items are included or represented in this listing unless they are shown in the photographs of this listing. We have and will have many more items listed so visit our ebay store, http://www.qdalpine.com often for more great deals! All auction items are offered to you at low starting prices and NO RESERVE! Thank you for your interest in this listing!We at QuikDrop of Comstock Park take pride in our honest transactions, excellent customer service and accurate eBay listing services. Please note our excellent feedback rating and BUY WITH CONFIDENCE! Items listed are sold AS-IS with no guarantees on condition or functionality implied unless expressly stated in the description above. If you have any questions on an item, please feel free to ask. The most efficient way to contact us is through the eBay messaging system and we attempt to answer all messages in this system promptly during our business hours. Please note that we are closed on Sundays and US Holidays.We place great importance on our eBay feedback and detailed seller ratings so after you've had a good buying experience with us, we ask that you please help our cause with postive feedback and detailed seller ratings. In trying to provide the best communication possible with our buyers, we utilize an automated feedback system whereby a positive feedback is left for the buyer after receiving a positive feedback from the buyer. We believe every transaction should be a positive experience for both parties and work hard to make sure you are satisfied.We do THANK YOU VERY MUCH for considering our items and TRULY APPRECIATE your business!KEY WORDS:Antique; Hookah; Nargile; Shisha, Bong, Water pipe, Ottoman, Turkish, Smoke, Pipes, Arabic, Art, Brass, Tobacco, Collectables, Primatives, Other pipes, Tobacciana. Payments Winning bidders can pay using the PayPal button. An automated email invoice with totals and payment information is also sent for convenience. Winning bidders must checkout within 7 days of the close of the auction listing or eBay store purchase. In fairness to the individuals and businesses that sell through us, if payment is not received within this 7 day period, an Unpaid Item dispute will be filed with eBay to recover the closing fees and the item purchase we be revoked. If you wish to combine multiple purchases for shipping, please make sure the closing dates from the first purchase to the last purchase are within 7 days.   For items that are paid for using Paypal and desired by the buyer to be combined in shipping, the buyer must pay for all items to be combined in shipping with one combined PayPal payment.   If the items are not paid for in one payment, we cannot combine the shipment because of Paypal terms and conditions that we are subject to.   If individual payments are made, your items will be shipped individually.    The one exception to this applies to any items that are purchased with the Free Shipping option.   Purchased items with the Free Shipping option MUST be combined with other purchases, when other purchases apply.   All items you purchase may be delayed if you do not make a combined PayPal payment. US BIDDERS: PayPal is preferred but personal and business checks, money orders, cashier's checks, and all major credit cards are also accepted. Personal and business checks as well as PayPal eChecks will cause reasonable delays in shipment for bank funds clearing purposes. Winning bids can also be picked up at our Comstock Park, Michigan location to forgo the Shipping and Handling Charge. There is a nominal local pickup fee. We reserve the right to ship to only PayPal confirmed addresses when PayPal is the form of payment. Michigan Sales Tax of Six Percent will be added to all local pickups and shipments within the State of Michigan. INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS ONLY: Outside of the US, PayPal presently only confirms addresses in the United Kingdom and Canada. As we reserve the right to ship to only PayPal confirmed addresses, a bank wire transfer may be required as a form of payment If you live in a country other than Canada or the UK or live in Canada or the UK and do not have a PayPal confirmed address. Please bid only if you are willing and able to make payment in this form. Wire instructions will be provided to the winning bidder after the auction closes. We do appreciate all International bids and thank you considering our items. We are very happy to confirm that everything we publish is accurate and honest and described to the best of our ability, and that you will receive exactly what is pictured, including prompt shipping and careful packaging. Most countries outside of the US use customs fees to pay those who carefully inspect and deliver all packages received and have laws pertaining to all imported goods, which we are happy to obey with. As such, please rest assured that all customs forms are filled out accurately and honestly and that we will not mark purchases as gifts or misrepresent declared values on Customs forms. You will be responsible for all Tariffs and Duties imposed by your country. Please be wary of sellers who might agree to cheat your country, because they might also cheat you! We at QuikDrop of Comstock Park will do neither. Winning bidders and buyers are responsible for all taxes, tariffs, and fees required by their respective state or country. Shipping We usually ship items within two business days of payment clearing and confirmation. Tracking information will be emailed automatically when your item is shipped or we can provide tracking information to you upon request. Most items shipped via FedEx, UPS, DHL, or USPS Priority Mail are delivered within 4-6 business days of shipment.   Items purchased with the Free Shipping option will generally be sent using USPS Parcel Post service and may take longer to deliver.   We will ship using a faster service for an additional fee.   If you have a timeframe whereby you need a Free Shipping item shipped by FedEx, UPS, DHL, or USPS Priority or Express Mail, we can provide a quote for additional shipping to utilize the faster shipping method.   Orders are processed Mondays-Fridays and are not processed for shipment on weekends or holidays. A COMPLETE street address is required for all shipments as we use Ground carriers (FedEx, UPS, DHL) for domestic Continental US shipments that do not utilize Free or Flat-Rate Shipping and USPS for International shipments, items that utilize Free or Flat-Rate Shipping as well as most shipments to Alaska, APO, FPO, Hawaii, and all US territories. Shipping and handling and insurance is completely independent of an item's price.   Flat Rate or Free Shipping may not apply to shipments to Alaska, APO, FPO, Hawaii, or US territories. If at all possible, we WILL combine shipping for multiple auction items. Items shipped within the US will be shipped at our discretion via FedEx Ground, UPS Ground, DHL Ground or USPS.  For calculated shipping listings, we cannot guarantee but will attempt to honor, carrier requests from our winning bidders. Please use the EBAY shipping calculator shown in every calculated shipping listing to obtain a shipping quote for your location. We ship items Worldwide via trackable carriers such as USPS Express, FedEx International, UPS Worldwide, or DHL International. Our standard International shipping method is USPS Express Mail International. We will consider using other methods of International shipping at the winning bidder's request. If we honor the winning bidder's request to ship via an alternative untrackable method, the winning bidder assumes full responsibility for the delivery of the item. We will NOT under any circumstances ship Ground/Surface to International destinations with the exception of Canada.  Local pickup from the Comstock Park store is welcome within 5 business days of auction close. There is a $2 pickup fee for all local pickup items. Payment can be made for local pickup items using credit cards, exact cash, cashier's check or money order while in the store. Personal or business checks are not accepted for local pickups. Michigan residents must add 6% sales tax for any local pickups or any shipments within the State of Michigan. Unless prior arrangements are made agreed to, local pickup merchandise that is not picked up within 5 business days of auction end or eBay Store purchase will be considered abandoned. Under all circumstances, items not picked up within 30 calendar days of the eBay purchase will be considered abandoned. Returns QuikDrop will accept return of the goods only if they are not exactly as described in this listing. Returns will be accepted if owe are notified through the eBay message system within 3 days from the date that you receive the purchased item and grant refund approval. In fairness to the individuals and businesses who sell items through our store and are expecting payment for the sale of their items, you MUST contact us within 3 days of receiving the item or a refund will NOT be granted. Return shipping is the responsibility of the buyer and we must receive the returned item within 7 days of granting refund approval or a refund will NOT be granted. After receiving the returned item(s), the item(s) will be inspected for listing inaccuracies and if found, a refund will be sent to the buyer within 10 days. About Us QuikDrop of Comstock Park is a local store dedicated to provide a simple, fast and convenient way to sell items on eBay. Customers bring in items that they would like to sell. Digital photographs are taken and informative descriptions are written for an attractive, detailed listing to be placed on eBay.  QuikDrop tracks the auction, answers questions from prospective buyers, processes the payment, packages the item, and ships it to the winning bidder/buyer when the auction closes.   We then send our selling customer a check!   It couldn't be more convenient and easy! Our store is located on Alpine Avenue directly across the street from Wal-Mart in the Yorktown Center. Our store hours are 9-6 M-F and 9-4 Saturday. We are closed on Sundays and US Holidays. The store address is:Quikdrop of Comstock Park4048 Alpine Avenue NWComstock Park, MI 49321 You can browse the items in our eBay store anytime at www.qdalpine.com.  Prospective bidders can contact us during store hours with any questions via the eBay messaging system.  We can also be contacted via telephone at 616-785-3229. Legal   QuikDrop of Comstock Park represents that the items listed are as they are described in the listing above and will accept returns of the goods only if they fail to meet the descriptions above. . Items listed are sold AS-IS with no guarantees on condition or functionality implied unless expressly stated in the description above. QuikDrop specifically disclaims and implied warranties of title, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. If you have any questions on an item, please contact us via the eBay messaging system before purchasing to avoid any potential issues.         Payments | Shipping | Returns | About Us Powered By AuctionSound eBay Auction Management and Consignment Software   Place a Bid!