ELEVEN FRAGMENTS AND ARCHITECTURAL PANELS OF REVERSE GLASS PAINTINGS
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT EUROPEAN PRIVATE COLLECTION
Iran, 19th and 20th century

Opaque pigments, pencil, polychrome enamels, gold and white wash on glass, comprising a varied selection of decorative glass fragments and architectural panels, each of different size, featuring similar compositions with the beloved topos of Persian literature and art, gol-o-bolbol (rose and nightingale), including six panels with birds perched on lush floral branches of roses, blue daisies, poppies, irises, carnations and prunus blossoms, all against a mirror ground; three horizontal panels with fragments of floral bouquets and blooms, all against a gold-sprinkled ground; and two vertical panels with fragments of architectural roundels with buildings immersed in nature interspersed amidst dense festoons of flowers and foliage; all painted in the Persian technique known as naqqashi-ye posht-e shishe (نقاشی پشت شیشه), or reverse glass painting, mounted, glazed and framed, the largest panel 42cm x 77cm including the frame.

Christie's London, 4 October 2012, lot 159 (only three panels).