A QAJAR LACQUERED PAPIER-MÂCHÉ PEN CASE (QALAMDAN)
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE EUROPEAN COLLECTOR
Qajar Iran, 19th century

With rounded ends and sliding tray, lacquered, polychrome-painted and heightened in gold, the top and sides painted with a horizontal composition consisting of multiple cusped cartouches with figural group scenes alternating with oval portrait medallions of Qajar beauties and youths, the scenes in the cusped cartouches including a lovers' encounter, mother and child compositions, and naz-o-niyaz-themed sequences with a beautiful Qajar lady reclined on embroidered bolsters in a Western-inspired landscape, the base and sides of the sliding tray painted black with stylised gilt floral stems, the underside of the case with fine vine trellis and grape bunches painted in gold against a bright red ground, 22.5cm long.

*The owner's note on the interior: it appears to be the work of Aqa Zaman, number 77, price 20,000 tumans.