A Qajar lacquer calligraphic penbox (qalamdan), presented to Husayn Quli Khan, Persia, late 19th Century

of rectangular form with sliding tray, decorated in polychrome and gilt, with four inscription-filled cartouches each with four lines of inscription in nasta'liq all on a ground of floral interlace, the top with a central cartouche containing floral sprays and perching birds, the sides of the inner tray and base with sprays of vines
24.3 cm. long.

Provenance
Private UK collection.

Published
M.T. Ehsany, Iranian painting, book binding and pencases, a commentary on the history of book binding and painting in Iran, Tehran 2003, p. 60.

Inscriptions: Persian verses (poet unidentified, probably by the lacquer painter).

The poem indicates that the pen box was a gift to Husayn Quli Khan, mentioning his father 'Ali Quli Khan Mukhbir al-Dawlah and praising them both with benedictory verses to Husayn Quli. Husayn Quli Khan (AH 1264-1335/AD 1847-1916) took up an office in the Ministry of Post and Telegraph in AH 1284 (AD 1867-8), was titled Mukhbir al-Mulk in AH 1301 (AD 1883-4) and was appointed Minister of Post and Telegraph when Muzaffar al-Din Shah came to power and received the title Mukhbir al-Dawlah after his father's death in AH 1315 (AD 1897). As the poem mentions his father with terms that indicate he is already dead, this pen box was likely to have been made after AH 1315 (AD 1897).

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