Pen Box and Glass Case

Fathallah Shirazi

mid-19th century · Lacquer · Islamic Art

This penbox, by one of the great lacquer painters of the second half of the nineteenth century, is decorated in the artist's signature gul-u-bul-bul (rose and nightingale) style in a palette of beige, gold and black. It contains a small spectacle case with the same decorative motif that fits into the sliding compartment. The inscription, which appears at the top and bottom edges of the lid, tells us that it was made for the Qajar prince, Kamran Mirza, who was the third son of the ruler, Nasir al-Din Shah (r.1848–96).

Artist

Fathallah Shirazi

Date

mid-19th century

Medium

Lacquer

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Gift of Dara Zargar, 2018