A fine silver-inlaid cast brass pen-case, Khurasan, early 13th century

of elongated ovoid form with elaborate hinges and lock clasp of ornate interlacing openwork secured by copper pins, the hinged cover with engraved decoration comprising two roundels each filled with interlacing star patterns in silver inlay on a ground of scrolled leaves flanking horizontal inscription bands on a ground of foliate scrollwork, the interior re-fitted with shaped compartments for the ink and pens

inscriptions

bi’l-yumn wa al-baraka wa al-dawla wa al-sa’da (?) wa al-…

‘With Good-fortune and Blessing and Wealth and Happiness and Well-being (?) and …’

‘amal ishaq …. ibn / mas’… al-as ….

‘Work of Ishaq … son of Mas’ …(?) …’

The elaborate mounts on this pen-case are derived from a type that was employed on wood and ivory boxes, where such reinforcement would have been necessary.  The date of this type of pen-box is indicated by another example in the Freer Gallery, Washington D.C., which is inlaid with the date of A.H. 670 / A.D. 1210-11 (see Atil et al 1985, no.14, pp.102-110). Following the Mongol invasion of Central Asia and eastern and northern Iran in the early 13th century, the form starts to appear in more westward regions.  For example, a pen-case with a similar form from Syria or eastern Anatolia dating to the first half of the 13th century in the al Sabah Collection, Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyya, Kuwait (see Atil 1990, no.40, p.140).

Two pen-cases closely comparable to the present example and with similar wide openwork mounts are to be found in the David Collection, Copenhagen (von Folsach 1990, no.322, p.195; and von Folsach 2001, no.484, p.307), and the L.A.Mayer Museum, Jerusalem (Baer 1983, no.50, p.70).  Another was sold in these rooms as part of the Collection of the Berkeley Trust, lot 79, 12 October 2004.