A QAJAR GILT-COPPER POLYCHROME-PAINTED ENAMELLED QALYAN CUP
Iran, 19th century

Of typical cylindrical shape with a wide everted circular rim, resting on a decorative wooden base, the exterior finely embellished with polychrome-painted enamels, the decoration consisting of alternating roundels filled with scenes of flowers and birds and vertical oval cartouches filled with courtly scenes of merriment, wine drinking, the lady with long thick black hair possibly pining over the Qajar military officer in the opposite roundel cartouches set against a dark cobalt blue enamel ground and interspersed with gold-leaf stippled appliquéd rosette heads with red centres, the lower band filled with rosettes and floral bloom designs in polychrome enamels, mounted on a wooden stand, 9cm diam. and 15.5cm high including the stand, 6cm high excluding the stand.