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Portable Pen-Case (qalamdan)

Pen-Case
1220-1230 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The body in plan is an elongated triangle culminating in a four-lobed pointed arch at the widest end. The sides are vertical and each features epigraphic inscription.

The trilobed section is engraved with a woman-headed bird with her body in profile, encircled by a cusped halo of glory, she stands on a scrolling foliate ground.

In the long triangular section four animals walk from left to right: a hare, a cheetah and two wolves(?), on a scrolling foliate ground, all enclosed by a double fillet. This is the underside of the box, the top side is missing. The narrow end is pierced by a hole.

The flat finial is pierced sideways with a hole.

Patina: brassy yellow. Remains of lead (?) soldering near tip.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitlePortable Pen-Case (qalamdan) (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Hammered brass sheet. Decorated with champlevé designs, the ground filled with black composition.
Brief description
Hammered brass sheet decorated with champlevé designs.
Physical description
The body in plan is an elongated triangle culminating in a four-lobed pointed arch at the widest end. The sides are vertical and each features epigraphic inscription.

The trilobed section is engraved with a woman-headed bird with her body in profile, encircled by a cusped halo of glory, she stands on a scrolling foliate ground.

In the long triangular section four animals walk from left to right: a hare, a cheetah and two wolves(?), on a scrolling foliate ground, all enclosed by a double fillet. This is the underside of the box, the top side is missing. The narrow end is pierced by a hole.

The flat finial is pierced sideways with a hole.

Patina: brassy yellow. Remains of lead (?) soldering near tip.
Dimensions
  • Maximum height: 2cm
  • Length: 24.7cm
  • Maximum width: 3.65cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
  • (Persian; Kufic; epigraphic band on the sides of the tri-lobed end; engraved)
    Translation
    Completely (?), with bliss and d[ivine grace], with bliss and divine grace.
  • (naskhi; long sides)
    Translation
    Godliness and lasting life, laudation and praise, magnificence and grandeur, magnificence, godliness and beneficence. Might and lasting life, laudation and praise, magnificence and grandeur, godliness and beneficence, knowledge and fidelity.
Gallery label
PEN-CASE. Engraved brass, filled in with black composition. PERSIAN; 15th CENTURY.(Used until 10/2002)
Object history
Purchased for £8 from J.Sassoon & Co., 62 Mortimer St, Cavendish Square, London W1, 2 August 1903.
Subjects depicted
Bibliographic references
  • Melikian-Chirvani, A.S. Islamic Metalwork from the Iranian World, London:HMSO, 1982, p124-125, ISBN 0 11 290252 9
  • The Survey, reproduced pl. 1288 B
Collection
Accession number
1175-1903

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Record createdMarch 18, 2003
Record URL
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