An early 20^th century Persian (Iranian) silver shots set on tray, Isfahan circa 1920 by Ja'far

Qajar period. Comprising six short beakers or tots and a tray. The tray of hexalobed form with a cavetto edge and moulded rim. The beakers of tapering cylindrical form. The tray with flat chased decoration of a Safavid style courtly scene with people various figures enjoying libations, all edged with a calligraphic band. The cavetto edge with foliage with populated with nightingales gol-o bolbol. The beakers with vignettes of figures of below a rosette band. Each marked underneath with workshop mark عمل جعفر (Amal-e Ja'far | the work of Ja’far), and فرمایش-ا ابتکار (Faramish-e Ebtekar | Ordered by Ebtekar). (7)

Tray diameter – 22 cm / 8.7 inches

Weight – 431 grams / 13.86 ozt

Two Faramish-e marks have been noted on Isfahan silverware of the late Qajar period, Ebtekar and Pascal. These two marks have often been seen in combination with Amal-e Ja'far عمل جعفر (the work of Ja’far). Ebtekar and Pascal are presumed to be retail outlets at this time.

There is a significant corpus of silverware marked for Ja’far, the range of wares covering tea sets and trays, cigarette boxes, beakers, chargers, condiments, card cases and cocktail shakers. Dated examples are known from at least the 1920’s yet the style of the decoration can be associated with the very end of the 19^th century until the 1930’s. There are two main groups of decoration for wares marked Ja’far; those with figures, drawn upon Safavid paintings either shown in courtly group scenes with musicians or as individuals, then there are those with dense foliage populated with nightingales gol-o bolbol. It is probable that Ja’far was both a manufacturing workshop and a retailer, silver bearing this mark is seen in both Isfahan style engraving and the chased figural work of Shiraz. Some of the finest wares combine both these styles on the same piece suggesting that Shirazi craftsmen may have been employed in Isfahan. There is only one version of the Amal-e Ja’far mark, evidently the first encameo cut steel punch used in Persian silverware, this is an uncommon occurrence in proficient silver producers as punches do soften and even break over time.