A LARGE DYED AND GILT LEATHER-LINED CALLIGRAPHER'S TOOLBOX
Ottoman Turkey, 19th century

Of rectangular shape with rounded sloping ends, resting on arched bracket feet, the hinged lid opening from the front, the wooden box lined in maroon-dyed, tooled and gilt morocco leather enhanced with typical Ottoman lobed medallions filled with arabesques and interlocking foliate sprays occurring on manuscripts' leather covers, the sides with rectangular cartouches featuring stylised Chinese cloud-band motifs, the base lined in marbled paper, the interior lined in the same leather panels and presenting analogous gilt designs to the exterior, 10.5cm x 33.4cm x 12.3cm.

Another example of an Ottoman leather-lined calligrapher's box, dated ca. 1800 and identical in design to our lot, can be seen in the publication of M. A. Karimzadeh Tabrizi, Qalamdan and Persian Lacquer Work, 2000, p. 410.