A LACQUERED PAPIER-MÂCHÉ PEN CASE (QALAMDAN) Iran, 19th century With rounded ends and sliding tray, the top painted with vertical composition of polylobed figural medallions amidst a triumph of blooming roses, irises, tulips, carnations and birds, the sides similar but in horizontal composition, the figural medallions filled with a variety of literary characters such as Majnun and Sheikh San'an, scenes of mystical brotherhood and Sufi masters such as the two Safavid philosophers Mir Findiriski and Shaykh Baha al-Din Amili with the lion, and the young dervish inscribing a manuscript's page, village and courtly scenes, a signature and date in red ink nasta'liqscript to the top of the composition the work of Aliquli Jabbedar (active in 1666-1694) dated 1202 AH (1787), a later addition,polychrome-painted against translucent brown ground, the internal tray and the underside with intricate polychrome rosette and floral trellis on amber gold ground, 24cm long. This qalamdanis a wonderful example of the artist's literacy and flexibility in accommodating themes deriving from foreign cultures and traditions. The pen case bears elaborate designed compositions drawing their inspiration not only from masterpieces of classical Persian literature such as Nizami and 'Attar's romances, but also Christian-related scenarios and European-looking figures, not to mention the attention given to themes deriving from Sufism and esoteric beliefs. Some of these compositions can be found on a qalamdanpublished inMassumeh Farhad, Mary McWilliams and Simon Rettig,A Collector’s Passion: Ezzat-Malek Soudavar and Persian Lacquer, Washington DC, 2017, p. 77, inv. no. S2014.17.64.