Details
A PAIR OF FINE QAJAR LACQUER BOOK COVERS DEPICTING A WEDDING OF NASIR AL-DIN SHAH
SIGNED MIRZA MUHAMMAD TAQI MUZAHHIB ISFAHANI, TEHRAN, IRAN, DATED AH 1263/1846-47 AD
Of rectangular form, with the name and titles of Nasir al-Din Shah in the borders, each of the boards now split and the reverse of each with erotic scenes and couples in amorous embraces within medallions, each pair in frame with old French label
Each board 17 3/8 x 12¾in. (44 x 32.2cm.)
Engraved
On the front of the covers, in the small quatrefoil cartouches, dar zaman-e daulat-e javid muddat-e a'la hazrat-e qadr qudrat-e keyvan ref'at a'dal al-salatin ... wa'l-din al-Sultan ibn al-Sultan ibn al-Sultan wal'-Khaqan ibn al-Khaqan Nasir al-Din khallada Allah mulkahu wa sultanahu surat-e etman yaft 1263, 'It was completed in the time of the eternal government of His Most Exalted Highness, whose destiny is power, who is as exalted as Saturn, the most just of Sultans … wa'l-Din, the Sultan, son of the Sultan, and the Khaqan, son of the Khaqan, Nasir al-Din Shah, may God perpetuate his Kingdom and Sultanate, 1263 [1846-47]'
On the back of the covers, in the small quatrefoil cartouches, in tek juz jeld-e nadereh negashteh khaneh ist por naqsh o negar al-haqq durj-e dorr o gohar ast va matla'-e shams o qamar dar dar al-khilafah tehran haffat bi'l-amn wa'l-aman dar karkhaneh-ye aqall-e khala'iqa Mirza Muhammad Taqi Mudhahhib-e Esfahani etmam yaft 1263 [1846-47], This pair of marvellous covers is a painted house, full of designs and paintings, in truth it is a chest of pearl and gems and the rising of the sun and the moon. Completed in Dar al-Khilafah, Tehran, may it be surrounded by peace and security, in the workshop of the lowest of creatures, Mirza Muhammad Taqi Mudhahhib-i Isfahani, 1263 [1846-47].'
The many other inscriptions on the boards identify the scenes and include Persian verses on the theme of couples and marriage.
The scenes depicted on boards include the various activities associated with a wedding. On the the first board these include the betrothal meeting, the meeting for the presentation of sweets, the moment of the carrying of the trousseau and the meeting for the execution of the contract and, on the back, the wedding party. On the second board the scenes include the engagement party, the presentation of sweets, the painting of a bath house, the bride being shown to the bride-dresser, the moment of the carrying of the bride and, on the back, the birth of the first child.
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