* A QAJAR LACQUERED PAPIER-MÂCHÉ PEN CASE (QALAMDAN) WITH FIGURAL DECORATION
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 horizontal figural composition divided in three cusped cartouches, two with Mother and Child motif, the central one with two ladies and a man drinking from a golden cup in the wilderness, and two oval portrait medallions of Qajar maidens, the sides with further oval portrait medallions of Qajar ladies alternating with cusped cartouches filled with renowned Persian literature topoi such as Khosrow spying on Shirin during her bath and Shirin visiting the rock carver Farhad at Mount Bisotun, the rounded ends with hunting scenes, the base and sides of the sliding tray with stylised gilt lotus and flower scrolls against a red burgundy ground, 23cm long.