A GOLD-DAMASCENED OPENWORK STEEL PEN CASE (QALAMDAN)
Qajar Iran, 19th century

With rounded ends and a sliding tray, inlaid in gold, the openwork top decorated with two lobed Arabic calligraphic cartouches, the first reading the bismillah, set against a scrolling vegetal ground, the negative space filled with foliate sprays, the sides decorated with simplified vegetal bands and chevron motifs, the underside plain, 20cm long.