An early 20^th century Iranian (Persian) silver sugar basket, Isfahan circa 1920

Late Qajar dynasty, in the Russian style, of tapering cylindrical form with moulded and corded rim, raised on three ball feet. The front with Russian style engraved crossed floral sprays, with a pair of MacQueen’s Bustards above, the obverse with a continuous frieze of figures including shepherds with sheep all against a grassland with trees. With engraved ghalam zani borders of trailing foliage to top and base, the underside with an engraved spiral floral rosette. The plain swing handle marked to each pivot with pseudo Russian marks.

Diameter – 11 cm / 4.4 inches

Weight – 183 grams / 5.88 ozt

Russian sugar bowls were additionally marked to the pivot section including the single kokoshnik head in a circular punch after 1908.