A Qajar lacquer penbox (qalamdan) depicting Christian scenes signed by Ahmad Persia, dated AH 131...

A Qajar lacquer penbox ( qalamdan ) depicting Christian scenes signed by Ahmad Persia, dated AH 1313/AD 1895-96 with rounded ends and sliding tray, decorated in polychrome and gilt with three cartouches to the top, all with Madonna and Child, the lower cartouche with date and signature, the sides with further cartouches containing figures in landscapes and other Christian scenes, the bottom and sides of tray with floral interlace 23.5 cm. long Footnotes: Provenance Private UK collection. Inscriptions: fakhr-e anbiya ahmad , Pride of prophets, Ahmad 1313 Ahmad is recorded by Karimzadeh Tabrizi as a painter of the late 19th Century. There are three further recorded pieces by him signed as 'Pride of prophets, fakhr-e anbiya ahmad Ahmad', which are dated AH 1314 (AD 1896-7) and AH 1317 (AD 1899-1900), which makes this his earliest recorded work. (M. A. Karimzadeh Tabrizi, The Lives & Art of Old Painters of Iran , vol. 1, London, 1985, pp. 50-51) For other examples of uses of the the Madonna and Child in Persian lacquer, see: Khalili, Robinson and Stanley, Lacquer of the Islamic Lands, Part One, 1996, cats. 475- 82 and Khalili, Robinson and Stanley, Lacquer of the Islamic Lands, Part Two, 1997, cats 345, 347-51. Important Notice to Buyers Some countries e.g., the US, prohibit or restrict the purchase by its citizens (wherever located) and/or the import of certain types of Iranian-origin works. As a convenience to buyers, Bonhams has marked with the symbol R all lots of Iranian (Persian) origin. It is each buyer's responsibility to ensure that they do not bid or import a lot in contravention of the sanctions or trade embargoes that apply to them. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: R R This lot is subject to import restrictions when shipped to the United States. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com