* A QAJAR LACQUERED PAPIER-MÂCHÉ MIRROR CASE
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE EUROPEAN COLLECTOR
Iran, mid to late 19th century

Of rectangular shape, each side lacquered, polychrome-painted and heightened in gold, the decoration on both the lid and back inspired by the epic romances contained in Nizami Ganjavi's Khamsa, comprising Bahram Gur on his white steed hunting a deer with bow and arrow (lid front), Shirin and her maiden visiting Farhad at Mount Bisotun (lid back), and Shirin bathing with Khosrow approaching and catching sight of her, each figural composition framed within rectangular cartouches of nasta'liq poetry in white against green and red grounds, the frame of the mirror case with a stylised golden floral motif on red ground in the front, 30.5cm x 20cm.