A QAJAR TINNED COPPER QALYAN BOTTLE WITH SUFI-THEMED COCO DE MER PLAQUES
Qajar Iran, 19th century

Of typical inverted pyriform shape, with a thin tapering base rising to a globular body, with a cylindrical neck and a floral corolla around the rim, a small slightly everted cylindrical spout on the shoulder, the centre of the solid tinned copper body decorated with eight oval medallions of carved coco de mer plaques filled with figurines of standing Sufi dervishes, wearing typical felt hats and holding in their hands begging bowls (kashkuls), often carved out of entire coco de mer, further plaques carved with decorative compositions of floral vases and birds, and a dedicatory inscription in Persian reading "Commissioned by the dear friend Mohammad Ibrahim, the work of Mir Mohammad 'Ali", 17cm high.