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Mirror Case

dated 1269 AH/1852–53 CE
Not on view
The images and inscriptions on this finely-painted lacquer mirror case speak to the strong Shi'i-Sufi belief system prevalent in 19th-century Iran. Portraits of Imam 'Ali and Qanbar (his cherished companion, freed slave, and keeper of his horse) are depicted alongside a full-flowering iris plant and a delicate rendition of the rose and the nightingale on the outer surfaces of the piece. The rose and nightingale is a popular Sufi trope alluding to the yearning of the lover to unite with the beloved (God). Inscriptions describing Imam 'Ali and verses referencing the mirror as a reflector of his and the owner's beauty are found at the bottom of the inner surface of the shutter of the mirrorcase.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Mirror Case
  • Artist: Aqa Ahmad
  • Date: dated 1269 AH/1852–53 CE
  • Geography: Made in Iran
  • Medium: Pasteboard, papier-maché; opaque watercolor, gilded, and lacquered
  • Dimensions: H. 11 7/8 in. (30.2 cm.)
    W. 7 11/16 in. (19.5 cm.)
    D. 11/16 in. (1.8 cm.)
  • Classification: Lacquer
  • Credit Line: Purchase, 2017 and 2018 NoRuz at The Met Benefits, 2023
  • Object Number: 2023.501a, b
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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