A QAJARLACQUERED PAPIER-MÂCHÉ PEN CASE (QALAMDAN) Iran, 19th century With rounded ends and sliding tray, the top and sides painted with horizontal composition of the typical gul-o-bulbul (rose and nightingale) motif, the birds naturalistically rendered and depicted on branches amidst blooming roses, a nasta'liq inscription in faded white ink to the bottom and top of the composition mentioning the lacquer artist Aqa Mohammad Sadeqand the owner Aqa Hajji Qoli Khan,polychrome-painted against translucent dark brown ground, the internal tray and the underside with intricate gold vine scrolls on red ground, 22.8cm long.