Qajar Mirror Case
Museum-grade artifact
19th Century
Iran
Certificate of Authenticity
Iran
A Qajar lacquer mirror case, structured as a hinged form in which exterior image and interior function are held in direct relation.
Description
The outer panels are organised as paired figural scenes, each contained within a bordered field and set against a dense vegetal ground. The compositions are balanced across the hinge, maintaining continuity while remaining structurally divided.
The interior centres on a mirror plate, framed by calligraphic panels and painted reserves. A single nude figure is positioned within a floral field, contained within the same system of borders that governs the exterior.
The object is defined by its dual structure. The hinge separates outer narrative from inner reflection, yet both surfaces are resolved within a single pictorial and ornamental system. No element is independent; image, script, and frame are held in alignment.
The lacquer surface remains stable, preserving clarity of line and colour across both interior and exterior fields.
Context
Qajar lacquer work operates through the integration of figuration, calligraphy, and ornament within controlled surface systems.
In mirror cases, this is extended into structure: the act of opening establishes a transition between outward image and inward function. The object is not decorative but operative, its meaning carried through use, reflection, and the separation of interior and exterior space.
Provenance
From the Felice Maffei Collection, Italy
Acquired in Iran, 1968
Available on private enquiry.
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