Hookahs really are objects of beauty. With subtle feminine curves and organic shapes, the hookah is art. Traditionally, most hookahs are hand crafted – the stem cast, plated and engraved by hand, the vase blown and hand-painted, the hoses painstakingly wrapped with velvets, leathers, foils, and embellishments. You’ll find these types of pipes available in exotic Middle Eastern markets as well as all over the web. More modern styles are also becoming more readily available and encompass everything from acrylic bee-hive shapes to truly unique styles and colors of glass with intricate patterns.
You’ll also find hookahs in art, which to me absolutely proves that hookahs are worthy the art status. It was customary for aristocrats to have their hookah in commissioned portraits (be sure to visit Hookahs in Art to view some of these exotic paintings.)
In addition to the beauty of the hookah itself, the act of hookah-ing is a bit of an art form as well. I’ve been smoking hookah for a long time now - prior to the hookah boom when hookah replacement parts became readily available - so I can look back nostalgically at those days past correcting my hookah air flow with electrical tape and using barbecue charcoals for heat. Those days are gone and we are now able to find everything from rubber grommets and nicotine filters to replacement vases, hoses, and stems. Even with all of these conveniences, you still must have a measure of patience when setting up your hookah - the water level has to be just right and all of the pieces must fit together to create the optimum airflow and the shisha must be distributed evenly, and the foil needs to perforated, but not too much… well, you get the idea.
Thankfully the social nature of the hookah has yet to change and continues to thrive despite new stringent smoking ordinances. It is still and - I hope - will always be a social event. It’s a chance to sit down and relax for 45 minutes, which if you’re anything like me, is something you rarely get to do. It’s an opportunity to chat with friends - whether it’s about politics, religion, work, or just plain old gossip. It’s a way to unwind and take a deep breath – preferably of Double Apple, Rose, Lemonade, Butterscotch, oh the possibilities…
Written By: Hookah Queen
