Boxes19th century

Wafer Seal Case with Flowers and Birds

c. 1825-1875

Description

Flat rectangular body with sliding lid. The top is decorated in vertical format with three panels containing birds and flowers. On the base, floral and foliate motifs are painted in gold on a black background.

Classification

Boxes

Medium

Opaque watercolor, gold-colored pigments, brass chips, and lacquer over brass layer on pasteboard

Period

Qajar period

Century

19th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art

Dimensions

1.5 × 2.8 × 14 cm (9/16 × 1 1/8 × 5 1/2 in.)

Provenance

Ezzat-Malek Soudavar, Geneva, Switzerland (by 2014), by descent; to her son Abolala Soudavar, Houston, Texas (2014), gift; to Harvard Art Museums, 2014. Note: Ezzat-Malek Soudavar (1913-2014) formed this collection over a period of sixty years. She purchased the works of art on the international art market.

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