Bidspirit auction | A 19TH C PERSIAN QAJAR

A 19TH C PERSIAN QAJAR DYNASTY LACQUERED MIRROR CASE AND PIN BOX - A group of two 19th-century Middle Eastern, Persian Qajar Dynasty domestic accessories. An almost miniature-sized carrying mirror case and a pin case, or perhaps a Qalamdan pen case of very small dimensions. Both items were made in the popular papier-mache technique with hand-painted details and a lacquered finish. The mirror frame-case has two hand-painted miniatures on both sides, with a male and female couple in traditional garments. In both images, a standing lady offers drinks to a sitting man. These types of images were intentionally ambiguous and controversial until today, due to the possible iconographic representation of wine consumption in an Islamic society. In this case, these two beautiful miniatures refer to a Sufi poetry context in which the -not directly represented- wine stands for Divine Ecstasy or mystical love; the Cupbearer Saqi represents the pir of a spiritual master who dispenses divine favor; and finally the sitting figure of a drinker is the human seeker who opens his heart to receive a sacred intoxicating spiritual gift. Dimensions: Mirror: 5 3/4 X 3 7/8 in., (14.5 X 10 cm.), Case L: 5 1/2 in., (14 cm.) Condition: Good. Surface wear and age. No glass mirror. Small chips on edges and worn corners. Please make all inquiries before bidding. All statements contained in the catalog, condition reports, invoices, advertisements, or elsewhere concerning the authorship, attribution, origin, date, age, period, culture, source, provenance, authenticity, genuineness, condition, rarity, importance, or value of any lot are statements of opinion only and shall not be construed as representations, warranties, or statements of fact. All lots are sold ”as-is”, refer to our T&C. Helios Auctions does not offer in-house shipping. We will provide a list of recommended shippers upon request.