A LARGE QAJAR POLYCHROME LACQUER PAPIER MACHE RECTANGULAR CASKET

PART SIGNED BY MUSTAFA, PERSIA, DATED AH 1309 (1891-2 AD)

細節

A LARGE QAJAR POLYCHROME LACQUER PAPIER MACHE RECTANGULAR CASKET
PART SIGNED BY MUSTAFA, PERSIA, DATED AH 1309 (1891-2 AD)
Of shallow rectangular form with separate cover on four feet, the top with an extremely detailed depiction of a the siege of Herat, Muhammad Shah in the foreground identified by a cartouche accompanied by his chief vizier Hajji Mirza Aqasi, the landscape populated by myriad soldiers, an encampment on the left, mountains to the right, in a border of floral cartouches, the coved sides with gold flowering vine on black, the lip border with an extensive naskh inscription on red containing the full sura al-kursi, the interior with a central depiction of Nasr al-Din Shah hunting on horseback, signed and dated below, flanked by four landscape cartouches, the corners with large portrait medallions depicting the forebears of the Shah; Nadir Shah Afshar, Karim Khan Zand, Aqa Muhammad Khan Qajar and Fath 'Ali Shah Qajar, the front side of the casket depicting the court of Muhammad Shah, enthroned flanked by his vizier, the young Nasr al-Din, his mace-bearer and all the assembled princes, together with two European attendants, delicate trees visible behind, the reverse depicting Muhammad Shah and his vizier performing a military inspection, each side depicting the mounted Shah observing a hunt, one signed and dated below, red base with gold flowering vine, gold interior, one foot broken, slight chipping, a few old repairs, lacquer severely discoloured on cover
20 x 15¼ x 8in. (51 x 39 x 20.5cm.)

拍品專文

The casket is signed by Mustafa in two places and dated AH 1309 in the same places as well as at the end of the inscription band around the sides. Yet the quality of painting in the unsigned panels is higher than in the signed panels and is very close in style to that of Muhammad Isma'il b. Najaf 'Ali. The depiction on the cover, as far as one can decipher it under the discoloured varnish, immediately brings to mind his masterpiece, the casket now in the museum in Berne; the present casket also depicts the siege of Herat. The quality of the work in the depiction of the enthroned Muhammad Shah on the side panel is excellent, with very well-observed portraits of the mace bearer and vizier, together with the Europeans rendered slightly apologetic looking and subtly smaller than the assembled Persians. It is very probable that the artist of these panels was one of the sons of Muhammad Isma'il who were active at this period.