*A QAJAR LACQUERED PAPIER-MÂCHÉ WOODEN CASKET WITH ABU TALEB-STYLE MARBLED DECORATION

PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT EUROPEAN PRIVATE COLLECTION
Iran, 19th century

Of rectangular shape, resting on a plain wooden base, the lid and sides painted in red, green, yellow and black, occasionally heightened with gold, the decoration consisting of raised lobed arabesque-like cartouches against clouds motif (abr-o-bad), similar to snake skin pattern with uneven veneering and spiralling, the interior of the cartouches painted with the 'engine-turning' design in yellow and gold over a red ground, framed within golden vegetal bands, silver mounts to the sides in the shape of rosettes, the interior plain except for a scratched inventory number 'no. 1730', 12cm x 36.1cm x 23.6cm.