A KASHMIRI-STYLE LACQUERED PAPIER-MÂCHÉ PEN CASE (QALAMDAN)
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE EUROPEAN COLLECTOR
Qajar Iran, dated Shawwal 1253 AH (1837)

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 and arabesque medallions filled with blue nasta'liq calligraphy commemorating and honouring the art of calligraphy, set against intricate vegetal sprays and floral trellis in polychromes, further rosette, iris and blue flower sprays against gold ground all around the cartouches, the decoration possibly influenced by Kashmiri examples typically decorated with intricate vegetal scrollworks and geometric motifs, the base and sides of the sliding tray with sinuous stylised gilt rose scrolls and blue floral stems against a red ground, the interior of the tray with gold rose scrolls against a green ground, the underside of the case embellished with a row of typical Kashmiri boteh (paisley leaves) in gold against red, green and white grounds, 24cm long.