A POLYCHROME LACQUER PAPIER MÂCHÉ PEN CASE (QALAMDAN)

SIGNED BY NAJAF 'ALI, QAJAR IRAN, MID 19TH CENTURY

Details

A POLYCHROME LACQUER PAPIER MÂCHÉ PEN CASE (QALAMDAN)
SIGNED BY NAJAF 'ALI, QAJAR IRAN, MID 19TH CENTURY
With rounded ends and sliding tray, the top painted with a vertical composition of the Holy Family, a building behind with an angel flying above and a small bird and figure crouching in prayer below, signed in the sky ya shah-i Najaf, the sides with gul-o-bulbul design interrupted by four portrait roundels, the sides of the red sliding tray with gold scrolling vine, small areas of repainting
8¾in. (22.1cm.) long

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Lot Essay

Works by Najaf 'Ali are often signed 'ya Shah-i Najaf' (Oh King of Najaf), in reference to the burial site of Imam 'Ali. He was most active during the mid-19th Century and was followed later by his sons and other members of his family. Najaf 'Ali is recorded as being particularly fond of painting images of European women and Christian religious scenes, for example see Nasser D. Khalili, B.W. Robinson and Tim Stanley, Lacquer of the Islamic Lands, vol.II, London, 1997, pl.267-268, pp.75-76.

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