A LACQUERED PAPIER-MÂCHÉ QALAMDAN (PEN BOX)
Qajar Iran, 19th century, in the style of Mohammad Isma'il

With rounded ends and sliding tray, the curved top and sides painted in the style of Mohammad Isma'il with horizontally-arranged oval cartouches containing narratives of scholarship in the male spheres and domestic calm in the female spheres, the sides with scenes from the story of Sheikh San’an and the Christian maiden from Attar’s Mantiq ut Tair, including her final conversion to Islam witnessed by angels and the tacit approval of all being permitted in the path of love, the black ground with fine gold foliate tracery, the base and inner sides with scrolling lotuses in gold, the base and inner chamber in black, in crocheted black net sleeve 22.7cm x 3.9cm x 3.6cm.