Lot 817
817
A Rare Gold Damascened Iron Pen Case
PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE CALIFORNIA COLLECTION 
A Rare Gold Damascened Iron Pen Case

TIBET, 16TH/17TH CENTURY

Details
A Rare Gold Damascened Iron Pen Case
Tibet, 16th/17th Century
The fluted shaft very finely damascened with floral scrollwork, interspersed with small emblems of an elephant and horses supporting flaming jewels and a large central flowerhead, the reverse entirely inlaid with continuous bands of leafy scrolls
14¼ in. (36.1 cm.) long
Provenance
Private Collection, Hong Kong, 1980s
Christie's New York, 25 March 2004, lot 73

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Lot Essay

This iron case would have held a bamboo triangular pen. Based on the high quality of execution it was clearly commissioned for a high Tibetan official. The loops would have been strung so that it could be carried on a belt or over the shoulder. For further pen cases of similar design, see Morning Glory (publ.), Precious Deposits, Historical Relics of Tibet, China, 2000, vol. 5, pp. 27-31, cat. no. 5.

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