A silver-inlaid portable scribe's penbox, Khurasan, circa 1200

of tapering rectangular form, decorated on either side with bands of human-headed calligraphy containing benedictory inscriptions on a scrolling ground, the top with shaped rectangular and circular openings for the pen and ink enclosed by engraved and inlaid scroll and chain designs, the lid with domical knop and loop for suspension

This type of pen-box was probably intended to be carried suspended from the belt of the scribe, a practice that carried on in Ottoman lands into modern times.  The type was most common in Khurasan (Baer 1983, p.69, no.49; Pope and Ackermann 1938-9, pl.1317; and Melikian Chirvani 1982, p.125, no.53), though others, distinguished by different decoration, were also made further west (London 1976, no.193).