TWO LACQUERED PAPIER-MÂCHÉ PEN CASES (QALAMDAN) WITH FEMALE PORTRAITS
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT EUROPEAN PRIVATE COLLECTION
Qajar Iran, 19th century, one signed Muhammad Mahdi and dated 1246 AH (1830 AD)

Each with rounded ends and sliding tray, lacquered, polychrome-painted and heightened in gold, the top of both pen-cases painted in a vertical arrangement with three cusped cartouches filled with portraits of young ladies, two shown in 3/4 stands and dressed in European style, the third a profile view of an Indian lady wearing a high gold-embroidered turban and white muslin shirt, set against a dark ground with golden foliate designs on one pen case and polychrome floral bloom on the latter, the sides with similar floral and vegetal motifs on each pen case, the sliding tray and underside with gold trellis, scrolling lotus flowers and vines with grape bunches against a deep red ground on both pen cases, the largest pen case with two escutcheon-shaped cartouches on the top with the maker's signature and date in white reading Muhammad Mahdi 1246, and another epigraphic inscription reading 'Copied from the Work of Ustad Sadegh', the longest 24cm.