A LACQUERED PAPIER-MÂCHÉ QALAMDAN (PEN BOX) WITH LEYLA AND MAJNUN
Qajar Iran, dated 1259 AH (1843) and signed 'Ya Shah Najaf' (Najaf 'Ali)

With rounded ends and sliding tray, the curved top and sides painted in a horizontal composition with scenes from the story of Leyla and Majnun, including episodes in the wilderness, the central cartouche flanked by compositions of flowers and birds, the images accompanied by text from the poetry of Nizami in narrow bands, signed in the centre of the figural cartouche 'Ya Shah Najaf' (Najaf 'Ali), the outer base and inner sides in black lacquer, bordered by narrow horizontal gold bands, the interior and inner base in black, with contemporary inner brass dawat (inkwell) stamped ‘qalam goft ke man shah-e jahanam/qalamzan ra be dowlat miresanam’ (the pen declared ‘ I am the king of the world/ I will deliver the calligrapher to prosperity’) in Persian nasta’liq script, 22.8cm x 3.7cm x 3.5cm.

Dimensions: 22.8cm x 3.7cm x 3.5cm