A NEAR PAIR OF QAJAR GOLD-DAMASCENED STEEL BOTTLES WITH STOPPERS
Iran, second half 19th century

Each of pyriform shape, with a bulbous body, resting on a splayed circular foot, rising to a gently flared narrow neck with a bulging ring near the base and an everted circular mouth at the top, each surmounted by a dome-shaped stopper with a spire finial, the exterior decorated with gold-inlaid outlines of cusped cartouches and oval medallions filled with engraved rosettes, floral bloom and vegetal sprays, in the centre of the largest cartouches gold-inlaid stylised floral sprays, the tallest bottle 46cm high.

Two similar pairs of Qajar steel bottles presenting comparable gold-damascened and engraved decorations recently sold in these Rooms; please see our auction on 16 April 2021, lot 179, and the second pair, once part of the same private European collection, on 29 April 2022, lot 28.