TWO POLYCHROME-PAINTED ENAMELLED QALYAN CUPS WITH QAJAR MAIDENS
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT EUROPEAN PRIVATE COLLECTION
Qajar Iran, 19th century

Each of typical cylindrical shape, with a wide everted rim, comprising a gold qalyan cup, the gold sheet engraved, chased, and finely painted with polychrome enamels alternating roundels and escutcheon-shaped medallions filled with Qajar maidens dressed in Western garb and surrounded by children, lovers, and attendants amidst lush floral sprays and rose bouquets against a gold ground, each cartouche framed in green and two with a red beaded crown, the two largest medallions with Mother and Child compositions reminiscent of Western paintings, the lower edge of the cup with a decorative band with putti, birds and rosettes, the interior painted in turquoise enamel, 8.3cm diam. and 6cm high; and another similar but smaller, made of gilt copper and painted in a more naive and simpler style featuring a Qajar maiden assisted by a winged angel and an attendant alternating with floral triumphs, all against a black-enamelled ground, the interior painted in turquoise enamel, 7cm diam. and 5cm high.

Another gold qalyan cup, part of the same collection and showing an almost identical decorative program to the 'Mother and Child' one in this lot, was successfully sold in these Rooms, 25 October 2019, lot 224.