A QAJAR POLYCHROME-PAINTED ENAMELLED LIDDED COPPER COFFEE POT WITH FATH 'ALI SHAH
Qajar Iran, mid to late 19th century

Of pyriform shape, resting on a short, concave, circular foot, rising to a tapering neck and slightly splayed rim reinforced with a copper mouth, surmounted by a modern, hemispherical, detached lid, with a compressed, upward-turned, triangular spout and a narrow C-shaped handle on the sides, the exterior painted in shades of pink, blue, black, green, brown, white, yellow and gold enamels, the figural decoration depicting two analogous and yet different Qajar interior scenes, one with an enthroned ruler looking alike Fath 'Ali Shah Qajar, standing next to him a heavily bejewelled courtly lady, in the foreground musicians entertaining the pair, and the latter with a young Qajar official or prince, wearing a tall black Astrakhan fur kaj kolah headdress, seated next to his female counterpart, the couple being entertained by three female musicians in front of them, a sleeping lady reclined on a large bolster and a cat occupying the foreground, the second scene presenting overall a more relaxed and convivial tone compared to the first one set at court, more figural motifs on the spout and polychrome-painted, speckled design on the handle, the interior painted in turquoise enamel, 12.5cm high.