Writing case

Description

Pen box, case, elongated, with rounded ends, papier-mâché, painted polychrome with scenes from literature, lacquered: West Asia, Iran, Qajar period, 19th century

Museum reference

A.1921.1429

Collection

World Culture

Object name

Writing case, Qalamdan, Pen box

Production information

Isfahan, Iran, West Asia

Date

19th century

Style / Culture

Qajar period

Materials

Papier-mâché, Paint, Lacquer

Physical description

Papier-mâché, gesso, painted polychrome and lacquered; on top Laila and Madjnun, in the centre the Imami scholar, Muhammad Baha' al-Din al-Amili, known as Shaikh Baha'i (AH 953/ CE 1547 - AH 1030/ CE 1621), depicted with a lion next to him, in conversation with fellow philosophers (possibly Mir Damad) and students; the scenes with dervishes on the sides of the box refer to Shaikh Baha'i's Sufi practice.

Associations

Depicted: Mohtemed

Exhibitions

• Within the Middle East (12 May 1995)
  Royal Museum of Scotland