Friday 31 October 2025

Lot 169

A Qajar lidded lacquered papier mache pen case (qalamdan) with a portrait of Muhammad Shah Qajar...

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Lot 169

A Qajar lidded lacquered papier mache pen case (qalamdan) with a portrait of Muhammad Shah Qajar...

Price Realised: £1,706

Estimate: £800 - £1,200

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Price realised is hammer price plus fees (31.2% Buyers Premium inclusive of VAT).

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Lot 169

Description

A Qajar lidded lacquered papier mache pen case (qalamdan) with a portrait of Muhammad Shah Qajar (r. 1834-1858), Iran, inscribed to lid "Ya sahib al-Zaman", (Of Lord of the Age"),

of rectangular form, the lid is decorated with a seated portrait of Muhammad Shah enthroned in a landscape and to the interior of the lid a portrait of a prince standing, the sides display hunting scenes, the base with gold flowers on a red ground,

27cm. long  x 5.3cm diam. x 4.2cm high

Provenance: Property from an Important Private Collection acquired Christie's 10 October, 2000, Lot 358

A comparative example is in the Khalili Collection, London illustrated in Prof. D. Khalili, T. Stanley, B. Robinson, Lacquer of the Islamic Lands, Vol I, 1996, no 129, p. 175 (LAQ151), although the interior lid is a single portrait rather than a scene of the ruler and his ministers. That pencase is attributed to Abu'l Hassan Isfahani, known for his watercolour portraits of the Qajar elite.

Buyer's Premium

The buyer shall pay the hammer price together with a premium thereon of 26% up to £20,000 (31.2% inclusive of VAT), 25% from £20,001 - £500,000 (30% inclusive of VAT), 20% from £500,001 thereafter (24% inclusive of VAT). The premium price is subject to VAT at the standard rate.

VAT
VAT is not charged on the hammer price unless it is stated that there is 'VAT applicable on the hammer price at the end of the description. Buyer's premium is subject to VAT.
(ARR) - ARTIST'S RESALE RIGHT

Qualifying living artists and the descendants of artists deceased within the last 70 years are entitled to receive a re-sale royalty each time their work is bought through an auction house or art market professional.

It applies to lots with hammer value over £1,000 as follows:
0 to £50,000 - 4%
£50,000.01 to £200,000 - 3%
£200,000.01 to £350,000 - 1%
£350,000.01 to £500,000 - 0.5%
Exceeding £500,000 - 0.25%
ARR is capped at £12,500

Please note ARR is calculated in euros. Auctioneers will apply current exchange rates.

Export of goods

Buyers intending to export goods should ascertain whether an export licence is required before bidding. Export licences are issued by Arts Council England and application forms can be obtained from its Export Licensing Unit. Details can be found on the ACE website www.artscouncil.org.uk or by phoning ACE on 020 7973 5188. The need for import licences varies from country to country and you should acquaint yourself with all relevant local requirements and provisions before bidding. The refusal of any such licences shall not permit the cancelling of any sale nor allow any delay in making full payment for the lot.

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