Pen Box

dated 1299 AH/1881–82 CE

Not on view

Floral and bird designs are the hallmark of the lacquer works and drawings by Fathallah Shirazi who worked in a palette of gold and black. This work is a variation of his characteristic style in that the floral and bird vignettes appear in silhouette on a gold ground. The penbox bears an extensive Persian inscription in nasta'liq script revealing that this work was commissioned by a non-royal patron suggesting that even though Fathullah was primarily a court painter, he took private commissions from time to time.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Title: Pen Box
Artist: Fathallah Shirazi (Iranian, active 1850s–80s)
Date: dated 1299 AH/1881–82 CE
Geography: Made in Iran
Medium: Papier-maché; painted, gilded, and varnished
Dimensions: H. 1 5/16 in. (3.3 cm.)
W. 1 9/16 in. (4 cm.)
L. 8 11/16 in. (22 cm.)
Classification: Lacquer
Credit Line: Purchase, 2017 and 2018 NoRuz at The Met Benefits, 2023
Object Number: 2023.504a, b
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

By Fathallah Shirazi

In the same medium

From the same time and place

Lacquer Mirror Case, Fathallah Shirazi Iranian, Papier-maché; painted, gilded, and lacquered — Lacquer Mirror Case
Painting by Fathallah Shirazi
dated 1295 AH/1878 CE

Swan-Neck Glass Bottle, Glass, blue; dip-molded, blown, folded foot — Swan-Neck Glass Bottle
19th century

Lacquer Pen Box with Royal Audience Scenes, Sani' Humayun Iranian, Papier-maché; painted, gilded, and varnished — Lacquer Pen Box with Royal Audience Scenes
Sani' Humayun
dated 1314 AH/1896–97 CE

Pen Box and Glass Case, Fathallah Shirazi Iranian, Lacquer — Pen Box and Glass Case
Fathallah Shirazi
mid-19th century

Pen Box (Qalamdan) Depicting Shah Isma'il in a Battle against the Uzbeks, Papier-maché; painted and lacquered — Pen Box (Qalamdan) Depicting Shah Isma'il in a Battle against the Uzbeks
early 19th century

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