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Lot Essay
The form of this pencase is very similar indeed to that of the document holder in the preceding lot. While a few other comparable pencases are known, they are much rarer than the document cases. One other pencase, decorated with lacquer with spiralling designs, was formerly in the Edwin Binney Collection (Edwin Binney 3rd: Turkish Treasures, Portland, 1979, no.109, pp.172-3). Another very similar lacquer example is in the Sadberk Hanim Museum, bears an inscription dated 1185/1771-2 AD. A third, this time in ebony, was sold at Sotheby's, 16 April 1986, lot 220. Neither appeared to have the sand sprinkler set into the top that is found in this example.
The quality of workmanship in the current pencase is very good indeed. The overlap between the tortoiseshell as it is wrapped around the cylindsrical body is almoost invisible. And the words huwa are beautifully set into the curved surface.
The quality of workmanship in the current pencase is very good indeed. The overlap between the tortoiseshell as it is wrapped around the cylindsrical body is almoost invisible. And the words huwa are beautifully set into the curved surface.