With the introduction of imported tobacco to the Iranian market around 1600 and its widespread domestic cultivation within a few decades, water pipes became a mainstay of daily life. Such implements were smoked at home for leisure by both men and women, in coffeehouses to stimulate discussion, and even in schools to help focus the mind of both teacher and pupil. They were produced in a variety of materials to satisfy consumers across the socioeconomic spectrum, from humble versions made of coconut shells to more elaborate metalwork and glazed ceramic forms, such as this example.