Pedro del Rio Zañartu visited Turkey twice, in 1881 and in 1904. In both journeys, he acquired pieces of art and cultural objects like this water pipe for his collection of pipes or cachimbas, as he called them.
In Turkey, the consumption of tobacco from a hookah pipe reached its height of popularity during the Ottomon Empire (1299-1923). The water pipe or hookah is part of the ancient social ritual, where sharing in smoking was considered high class.
Originating in India, they entered Turkish society in the 16th Century. They are still used today to consume different flavors of Turkish tobacco. They owe their popularity to being both a relaxing activity at an individual level, as well as a way to socialize with others.