Pen Box
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
- 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: 2023.504
- Curatorial Department: Islamic Art
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Fathallah Shirazi
ca. 1880
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dated 1295 AH/1878 CE
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mid-19th century
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