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Lot Essay
This pencase is painted in a very similar style to two other examples signed by Muhammad Isma'il - one of which sold at Christie's, 26 April 2005, lot 203, the other is in the Nasser D. Khalili Collection (B.W. Robinson and Tim Stanley, Lacquer of the Islamic Lands, London, 1997, part 2, pp.22-29).
Ja'far was a son of Najaf 'Ali who is recorded as Muhammad Ja'far in the marriage certificate of Najaf'Ali's daughter as the bride's brother (B.W. Robinson and Tim Stanley, op.cit., London, 1997, part 2, pp.22-29). Karimzadeh has listed him both under Ja'far and Muhammad Ja'far as the son of Najaf 'Ali whose only known work is a pen-box dated 1285/1868-69. In the listing the penbox is described as having the portrait of John and two European ladies (M.A. Karimzadeh Tabrizi, The Lives and Art of Old Painters of Iran, vol.1, London, 1985, p.131 & vol.2, London, 1990, pp.681-83). Muhammad Isma'il was very close to the family of Najaf 'Ali who had probably been his master. It would not be surprising that Ja'far, son of Najaf 'Ali used a stencil drawn by Muhammad Isma'il for this penbox. For a discussion on Muhammad Isma'il, see lot 203.
Ja'far was a son of Najaf 'Ali who is recorded as Muhammad Ja'far in the marriage certificate of Najaf'Ali's daughter as the bride's brother (B.W. Robinson and Tim Stanley, op.cit., London, 1997, part 2, pp.22-29). Karimzadeh has listed him both under Ja'far and Muhammad Ja'far as the son of Najaf 'Ali whose only known work is a pen-box dated 1285/1868-69. In the listing the penbox is described as having the portrait of John and two European ladies (M.A. Karimzadeh Tabrizi, The Lives and Art of Old Painters of Iran, vol.1, London, 1985, p.131 & vol.2, London, 1990, pp.681-83). Muhammad Isma'il was very close to the family of Najaf 'Ali who had probably been his master. It would not be surprising that Ja'far, son of Najaf 'Ali used a stencil drawn by Muhammad Isma'il for this penbox. For a discussion on Muhammad Isma'il, see lot 203.