* TWO QAJAR LACQUERED PAPIER-MÂCHÉ WAFER SEAL HOLDERS
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE EUROPEAN COLLECTOR
Iran, mid to late 19th century

Each of rectangular shape, lacquered, polychrome-painted and heightened in gold, comprising a case with three lobed portrait cartouches, on the terminals two European-looking ladies with revealing dresses, in the centre a youth dressed in formal attire with a blue waistband, the sides and underside with golden stylised lotus flower scrolls on black and red grounds, 13.5cm x 2.5cm; and a similar case, with a Qajar youth wearing a black astrakhan fur kaj kolah, his sleeves with termeh cuffs, behind him a flowering prunus blossom tree, the sides and underside with golden vegetal motifs on red and black grounds, 13.5cm x 2.5cm.