A LARGE LACQUERED PAPIER-MÂCHÉ PEN CASE WITH INDIAN FIGURES
Possibly Kashmir or Northern India made for the Persian export market, mid to late 19th century

With rounded ends and a sliding tray, gold and polychrome-painted, and lacquered, the decoration on the top arranged in vertical order and on the sides in horizontal order, the top featuring three scalloped cartouches filled with traditional Indian subjects including a Mughal prince with a hawk and two female attendants, one playing the Indian tambura and the latter pouring wine in a small drinking cup, all against a sparkling gold ground, the sides featuring more Indian characters set against a lush natural landscape, clad in typical colourful garments and shawls, some in conversation, the underside of the case and inner sides of the sliding tray with plain golden linear outlines on a dark red ground, 28.5cm long.