Pen Box with Flowers, Birds and Animals

Unknown

17th century · Ivory; carved, incised, and inlaid with black lacquer and gold · Islamic Art

Ivory inlaid with black lacquer and gold is used to create intricate patterning of plants and birds on this Mughal pen-box. Animals carved into the ivory border the medallions along the lid. Pen-boxes, together with daggers and rings, were worn in men’s sashes in Mughal India to display wealth and were exchanged as royal gifts.

Artist

Unknown

Date

17th century

Medium

Ivory; carved, incised, and inlaid with black lacquer and gold

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917