* A LACQUERED PAPIER-MÂCHÉ PEN CASE (QALAMDAN) WITH GOL-O-BOLBOL MOTIF
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE EUROPEAN COLLECTOR
Iran, 19th century

With rounded ends and sliding tray, lacquered, polychrome-painted and heightened in gold, the top painted with a vertical composition of five cusped cartouches, highlighted in gold and filled with floral bouquets and nightingales against a black background, interspersed amidst a floral triumph with roses, daffodils, carnations, narcissi, irises and daisies all against a burgundy red ground, at the top and bottom a gilt inscription with the name Mohammad 'Ali Sharafat (?) and the date 1117AH (1705), the sides with similar decoration, the base with vines and vine trellis with grape bunches, a butterfly perched on a branch on the left hand-side, all against a black background, the sides of the sliding tray with gilt decoration of birds perched on branches and pecking fruits or leaves, more grape bunches in the centre, against a black ground, 24cm long.