تاریخ انتشار
1850
محل انتشار
Iran (made) Isfahan (made) -
موضوع
Lacquerware Islam
نوع
دیگر
زبان
نامشخص
دیجیتال
بله
نسخه خطی
خیر
ابعاد فیزیکی
Length: 39.8 cm, Height: 8cm
کتابخانه
Victoria and Albert Museum
شناسه دارایی کتابخانه
761:1-1876
شماره ثبت
761:1-1876
محل کتابخانه
Middle East Section
تاریخ
1850
یادداشتها
From the fifteenth century onward, lacquer objects â including book bindings, pen cases, boxes, Qurâan stands, and mirrors such as this one â gained popularity in Iran, peaking in production during the nineteenth century, with the Qajar dynasty (1797-1924). The vast increase in production across a variety of objects resulted in a considerable decline in quality; however, fine specimens continued to be done by certain artists in the cities of Shiraz, Isfahan, and Tehran. Much lacquerware during the Qajar period was also influenced by the increasing import of European artefacts, resulting in a distinctive Europeanization of designs and motifs. Lacquer production continued in Iran until 1924, when the Qajar dynasty was overthrown, after which point its production became determinably unfashionable. Writing in the early nineteenth century, Sir William Ouseley, a Persian scholar and secretary to his brother, George IIIâs ambassador to the court of Fath Ali Shah (ruled 1797-1834), Sir Gore Ouseley, wrote: âAt Ispahan the covers of the books are ornamented in a style particularly rich; and they often exhibit miniatures painted with considerable neatness and admirably varnishedâ¦.Most provinces of the kingdome are supplied by this great city with pen-cases or kalamdans, made, like the book-covers, of pasteboard, and sometimes equally beautiful in their decorationsâ¦.some contain, in various compartments on the lids, ends and sides, very interesting pictures executed in the best style of Persian miniature. The common subjects are battles and hunting-parties; but they often exhibit scenes from popular romances, among which the favourite scene seems to be Nizamiâs story, the Loves of Khusrau and Shirin.â Constructed of papier-mache and sometimes wood, lacquer objects were often decorated with small-scale paintings of popular motifs like floral patterns, birds, royal scenes, and popular romances before a varnish was then applied that protected the painting and added a pleasing reflective glow. This particular scene painted upon the pen box is adapted from the wall paintings at the Chihil Sutun Palace at Isfahan. The animation and crush of figures is emphasised in translating this scene from a wall painting to a miniature scale.
Malzemeler ve teknikler
Papier-mache; painted; varnished
Parçalar
Pen Case, Pen Case Part
Fiziksel açıklama
Large oblong pen box with rounded edges, made of lacquered papier-mache, depicting the famous battle of Chaldiran, which took place in 1514 between the Ottoman Turks and Safavids Iranians. The top of the box depicts the Iranian Shah Isma'il slicing the Agha of the Janissaries in two, before the eyes of the Turkish Sultan Selim the Grim.
