A Qajar lacquer penbox (qalamdan) by Muhammad Husain, Persia, circa 1850-70

with rounded ends and sliding tray, decorated in monochrome and gilt with floral sprays with perching birds and butterflies, the base and sides of inner tray with floral interlace, signed to top
22.6 cm. long

Provenance
Private UK collection.

Inscriptions: 'Muhammad Husayn'.

This is likely to be Muhammad Husayn Shirazi whose teacher was Lutf'ali Shirazi. His recorded works, which are mainly pen boxes, are dated between 1270 (1853-4) and 1289 (1872-3). (See M. A. Karimzadeh Tabrizi, The Lives & Art of Old Painters of Iran, vol. 2, London, 1990, pp. 561-8 and Khalili, Robinson and Stanley, Lacquer of the Islamic Lands, Part One, 1996, pp. 202-3.

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