ATTRIBUTABLE TO MUHAMMAD ISMA'IL, IRAN, CIRCA 1860

Details

A QAJAR POLYCHROME LACQUER PAPIER MACHE MIRROR CASE
ATTRIBUTABLE TO MUHAMMAD ISMA'IL, IRAN, CIRCA 1860
Of rectangular form with hinged cover, the front and back each with a central cartouche depicting a European scene of figures within a country landscape, flanked above and below by cusped lozenge-shaped cartouches each with a large European style figure, the light brown interstices with fine floral sprays and occasional birds, in a golden border of meandering flowering vine, the back sides with gold floral meander, silver hinges and clasp, the interior of the cover with a seated Virgin and Child composition set in landscape with trees and buildings, mirror cracked, lacquer considerably cracked on interior of cover, exterior with knocks to extremities and occasional chips
10¾ x 7in. (27.2 x 17.6cm.)

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

While this mirror case is not signed, there are various features which strongly support an attribution to Muhammad Isma'il. The large figures, not usually such a prominent feature of his work, have similar soft features to those on a penboxes signed by him in the Khalili Collection (Nasser D. Khalili, B.W.Robinson and Tim Stanley: Lacquer of the Islamic Lands, London, 1997, part 2, nos.242 and 269, pp.78-9). The shaped pictorial cartouches on a glitter ground of floral sprays with only a thin gold border line are also typical (Khalili, Robinson and Stanley, op.cit, no.241, pp.47-9). The central scene on each face, while similar in style to many of his works (see lot 199 for example), has a more countryfied look which could indicate that it is nearer to the original European source of the design than his other versions of the galloping chariot.

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