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Pen box

Arts of the Islamic World

On View: Arts of the Islamic World, 2nd floor
MEDIUM Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold with gold flecks on papier mâché under lacquered varnish; lacquered marbleized paper
  • Place Made: Iran
  • DATES 19th century
    DYNASTY Qajar
    PERIOD Qajar Period
    DIMENSIONS 2 x 2 1/4 x 10 7/8 in. (5.1 x 5.7 x 27.6 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 75.6
    CREDIT LINE Gift of Mr. and Mrs. A. Hyatt Mayor in honor of Charles K. Wilkinson
    PROVENANCE Prior to 1973, provenance not yet documented; by 1973, acquired by A. Hyatt Mayor and Virginia Sluder Mayor (Mrs. A. Hyatt Mayor) of New York, NY; 1973, loaned by A. Hyatt Mayor and Virginia Sluder Mayor to the Brooklyn Museum; January 14, 1975, gift of A. Hyatt Mayor and Virginia Sluder Mayor to the Brooklyn Museum.
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    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Decorated on all 6 sides as well as the inside of the top with motifs. Remainder of the case inside is covered with lacquered marbleized paper. Motif on the top of the box, which covers the entire surface, is a battle scene on horseback framed by a narrow boarder of gold dots arranged in squares against a maroon ground. Beneath the maroon border is a slightly wider one of a gold flower rinceaux against a black ground. On the front of the box is a landscape whose central scene is of 2 shepherds and a flock of sheep. The front center hinge partially covers one of the figures. On the short sides are other landscape scenes with horses and attached to the sides are small chains that hold up the cover. The bottom of the box has a covering of gold floral rinceaux against a maroon ground surrounded by a narrow floral border against a black ground. The inside cover has a center oval enclosing a half figure view of a young woman with an exposed bosom holding a vase of flowers in her right hand. On either side of the female figure is a landscape with water and bridges.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Arts of the Islamic World, 2nd floor
    CAPTION Pen box, 19th century. Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold with gold flecks on papier mâché under lacquered varnish; lacquered marbleized paper, 2 x 2 1/4 x 10 7/8 in. (5.1 x 5.7 x 27.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. A. Hyatt Mayor in honor of Charles K. Wilkinson, 75.6. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 75.6_edited_version_SL1.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 75.6_edited_version_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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