Carved Wooden Box
This elaborately carved box is the only example of its kind to be inscribed and dated. The charming hunting vignettes and animal combat scenes suggest that it was intended for a prince or a nobleman. Carved of pearwood, it was likely made in Abadeh, known for centuries as a center for the production of finely carved wooden boxes and implements such as spoons. The date places it before the sack of Isfahan in 1722 which suggests that Abadeh was a center for wood carving much earlier than previously believed.
Artwork Details
- Title: Carved Wooden Box
- Date: dated 1126 AH/1714 CE
- Geography: Country of Origin Iran
- Medium: Pear wood; lined with silk
- Dimensions: L. 14 in. (35.6 cm)
W. 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm)
H. 5 in. (12.7 cm) - Classification: Wood
- Credit Line: Purchase, 2017 and 2018 NoRuz at The Met Benefits, 2023
- Object Number: 2023.558
- Curatorial Department: Islamic Art
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