TWO LACQUERED PAPIER-MÂCHÉ PEN CASES (QALAMDAN) WITH THE GOL-O-BOLBOL MOTIF
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE EUROPEAN COLLECTOR
Qajar Iran, 19th century

Each with rounded ends and sliding tray, lacquered, polychrome-painted and heightened in gold, each top and sides painted with traditional compositions featuring the beloved topos of Persian literature, the rose and the nightingale (gol-o-bolbol), with plump birds perched next to lush blossomed roses, large buds, and leafy branches, one qalamdan arranged in horizontal order, the latter in an unusual vertical order with the rose bush stemming on one end of the pen case and growing to the other, the composition further livened by the presence of moths being pecked by the birds defending the roses, the sides of the sliding trays and the underside of the cases with stylised scrollwork of roses, lotus flowers, saz leaves, vine trellis and grapes in gold against bright red grounds, the longest 22.5cm.

For an almost identical near pair of Qajar gol-o-bolbol pen cases, once part of the same private collection, please see the successful sale taking place in these Rooms, 29 October 2021, lot 228.