SIGNED YA SHAH NAJAF, QAJAR IRAN, DATED AH 1269/1854 AD

Details

A POLYCHROME LACQUER PAPIER-MÂCHÉ PENCASE (QALAMDAN)
SIGNED YA SHAH NAJAF, QAJAR IRAN, DATED AH 1269/1854 AD
The painted decoration consisting of a large depiction of the Holy Family, the sides with European ladies and Qajar youths within roundels reserved against gul-o-bubul
9in. (22.8cm.) long

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

Sale room notice

Please note that the Gulf Cooperation Council has imposed a ban on the importation of Iranian goods to or via its member states. Some of the member states are enforcing the ban strictly such as Saudi Arabia. Please check with your shippers on whether you will be able to ship Iranian artworks to the GCC member states.

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. Mostly active during the mid-19th Century and later followed by his sons and other members of his family, he 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.
For a mirror case signed by the artist, see lot 285.

More from Arts & Textiles of the Islamic & Indian Worlds

View All