TWO LARGE QAJAR LACQUERED PAPIER-MÂCHÉ PANELS WITH BANQUET SCENES
Iran, 19th century

Comprising two rectangular panels, polychrome-painted against a translucent ground, the vertical composition characterised by a man with a tall black Astrakhan fur kaj-kolah hat and typical Qajar pink dress, the female companion fully bejewelled and wearing an encrusted feather-shaped head ornament, the scene in a traditional Qajar interior with khatamkari high chairs, floral carpet, dancers and musicians joining the scene, the composition bordered by calligraphic cartouches in free-flowing nasta'liq script, mounted, framed and glazed, 54cm x 47cm including the frame; and the horizontal composition similar, Chinese porcelain bowls and saucers in front of the couple, encased within several calligraphic cartouches of white nasta'liq script, golden roundels with the signature in red of Hajji Mohammad Naqqash-i Isfahan and the date 1272 AH (1855), the polylobed calligraphic cartouche at the back ascribed instead to Hajji Mohammad Taqi Isfahani's workshop, dated 1272 as well, mounted, glazed and framed, 59.5cm x 45.5cm including the frame.