Publication Date
1850
Publication Place
Iran (made) Shiraz (made) Isfahan (made) -
Subject
Lacquerware
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
Length: 22cm, Width: 14.7 cm
Library
Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID
875-1889
Record ID
875-1889
Library Location
Middle East Section
Date
1850
Notes
From the fifteenth century onward, lacquer objects â including book bindings, pen cases, mirrors, boxes and Qurâan stands 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 mirror case would have held and protected a mirror glass. Mirror cases with closing shutters began to be used in Iran in the 1660s, when mirror glass began to be imported from Europe.
Malzemeler ve teknikler
Lacquered and painted papier-mache
Parçalar
Mirror Case, Lid
Fiziksel açıklama
Rectangular shaped papier-mache case with hinged shutters, opening with a sheet of mirror glass in the interior. The outer face of the shutter shows a young princess seated underneath a parasol within an open terrace, surrounded by attendants; on the reverse of the case is a depiction of the Virgin and Child, surrounded by female attendants and an angel.
