A LACQUERED PAPIER-MÂCHÉ MIRROR CASE WITH QAJAR RULERS
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT EUROPEAN PRIVATE COLLECTION
Qajar Iran, mid to late 19th century

Of typical rectangular shape, lacquered, polychrome-painted and heightened with gold, the raised papier-mâché decoration on both the lid and back consisting of a central cusped golden medallion with standing portraits of the second and third Qajar kings, Fath Ali Shah (back) and Mohammad Shah Qajar (lid), set against interlocking vegetal and rosette sprays livened by little birds on a white ground, two smaller escutcheon-shaped cartouches with idealised landscape views, framed within concentric decorative borders with golden vegetal scrolls, the decoration on the interior of the lid consisting of a polychrome-painted diplomatic banquet scene replicating a very similar scenario to the Safavid frescos in the Chehel Sotun Palace in Isfahan like Shah Tahmasp receiving the Indian Mughal Emperor Humayun at his court and Shah Abbas II entertaining the King of Turkistan, the ruler depicted here in the typical Qajar style with a pink robe, encrusted buttons and bazubands, and a pearl-studded sword on his lap, set within a golden border of stylised foliate design, 29cm x 19.5cm.