A FINE QAJAR POLYCHROME LACQUER PAPIER MACHE QALAMDAN with rounded ends and sliding tray, the top with a central densely populated carrouche depicting the enthroned Nasr al-Din Shah flanked by princesa and courtiers, a large and small oval cartouche at each side with various enthronement scenes from the Shahnameh identified in small cartouches, surrounded by scrolling vine, inscription cartouches and floral panels, the sides and base with similar cartouches depicting scenes and kings from the Shahnameh together with Bahram Gur in the seven variously coloured pavilions, the tray moulded with further cartouches containing pictorial scenes within green border of gold scrolling vine, the golden interior of the tray with floral psrays and roundels within similar borders, signed by Hayder 'Ali and dated 1296 (1878-9 AD), (minute restorations) | Christie's

Lot 86

A FINE QAJAR POLYCHROME LACQUER PAPIER MACHE QALAMDAN with rounded ends and sliding tray, the top with a central densely populated carrouche depicting the enthroned Nasr al-Din Shah flanked by princesa and courtiers, a large and small oval cartouche at each side with various enthronement scenes from the Shahnameh identified in small cartouches, surrounded by scrolling vine, inscription cartouches and floral panels, the sides and base with similar cartouches depicting scenes and kings from the Shahnameh together with Bahram Gur in the seven variously coloured pavilions, the tray moulded with further cartouches containing pictorial scenes within green border of gold scrolling vine, the golden interior of the tray with floral psrays and roundels within similar borders, signed by Hayder 'Ali and dated 1296 (1878-9 AD), (minute restorations)

Details

A FINE QAJAR POLYCHROME LACQUER PAPIER MACHE QALAMDAN with rounded ends and sliding tray, the top with a central densely populated carrouche depicting the enthroned Nasr al-Din Shah flanked by princesa and courtiers, a large and small oval cartouche at each side with various enthronement scenes from the Shahnameh identified in small cartouches, surrounded by scrolling vine, inscription cartouches and floral panels, the sides and base with similar cartouches depicting scenes and kings from the Shahnameh together with Bahram Gur in the seven variously coloured pavilions, the tray moulded with further cartouches containing pictorial scenes within green border of gold scrolling vine, the golden interior of the tray with floral psrays and roundels within similar borders, signed by Hayder 'Ali and dated 1296 (1878-9 AD), (minute restorations)
9¼in. (23.5cm.) long

Lot Essay

This penbox is of a type developed by Isma'il ibn Najaf 'Ali, remarkable for the number of people the artist manages to depict in every scene. Here the quality is very good, enabling the artisst succesfully to be able to represent not only Nasr al-Din Shah but also a number of his ministers.

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