Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Nargile – A Turkish Waterpipe


The first type of Hookah created by India was made of a coconut shells. It had gotten its name by the term Nargile, which in the Iranian spoken language means coconut. As time progressed, the coconut base was then transferred over to being produced by glass and other raw materials like clay. In Turkey, the craftsman began to design the most detailed Nargile to exhibit their artistic ability to other countries. They began to create the most types of Turkish Waterpipes that were ever created. The craftsman primarily made all the Nargile by hand and the following practices are even done today.

The Nargile is composed of 4 parts:

Govde – The body of the waterpipe that was made of glass, porcelain or fine metals. The body was also decorated by fine art.


Lule – The waterpipe bowl of the where the tobacco was sprinkled on. The tobacco used was primarily imported from Iran. Prior to using the tobacco, it had to be washed several times and then used.


Marpuc – The tube of the waterpipe that carried smoke from the Lule to the Aoyzlyk once smoke was inhaled. It typically decorated by bead and/or fine stitching.


Aoyzlyk – The mouthpiece of the waterpipe made of amber.

1 comment:

Zayden Wood said...

The detailed craftsmanship of the Nargile Waterpipes, including components like the Govde, Lule, Marpuc, and Aoyzlyk, reveals a deep respect for traditional practices that persist today. Each part of the waterpipe, from the glass body to the amber mouthpiece, is meticulously made, often embellished with decorations that reflect the artisan's unique style and cultural heritage.