An early 20^th century Iraqi silver and niello book of matches holder, Omara circa 1920 signed Baqual and Abbas

Of rectangular form with rounded corners, push button release. The front nielloed with a scene of a man in a fez sat in a gufa with a boatman with a quant, a camel and palm trees in the background. The reverse with a hunter with a shotgun pursing a boar within palm trees. Gilt interior. Signed to the front corner.

Length – 6 cm / 2.4 inches

Weight – 62 grams / 1.99 ozt