Arts of the Islamic World & India including Fine Rugs and Carpets

A Khurasan silver-inlaid penbox, signed by 'Umar Abu Bakr Muhammad al-Harawi, Herat, dated 610 AH/1213 AH

VAT applies to hammer price and buyer's premium

Auction Closed

October 26, 12:30 PM GMT

Estimate

80,000 - 100,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

of tapering rectangular form with domed top, the faceted sides engraved and inlaid with silver, decorated with grouped and paired figures involved in various courtly activities with addorsed and hunting quadrupeds all on an arabesque ground, inscription panels to back and front, the upper section with a mihrab shaped opening and hinged cover and fastening, the top with floral rosette knop and suspension loop

28.5cm.

This lot should have a dagger symbol in the printed catalogue. VAT will be charged at 20% on the hammer price, although in appropriate circumstances the VAT may be cancelled or refunded. Please refer to the printed catalogue for further VAT information. Please note that there may be restrictions on the import of property of Iranian origin into the USA and some or all member countries of the Gulf Co-operation Council. Any buyers planning to import property of Iranian origin into any of these countries should satisfy themselves of the relevant import regime. Sotheby's will not assist buyers with the shipment of such items into the USA or the GCC. In addition, FedEx and US courier services will no longer carry Iranian-origin goods to any location. Any shipment services would need to be provided by a Fine Art shipping company

Inscriptions

al-‘izz wa al-iqbal

‘Glory and prosperity’

barakah li-sahibihi mahmud ibn muhammad ibn abi ni’am al-ma’ruf bi-haji khwajagi bukhari’

‘Blessing to its owner Mahmud ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Ni’am, known as Haji Khwajagi Bukhari’

Signed: ‘The work of ‘Umar Abu Bakr Muhammad al-Naqqash al-Harawi on the first of Rabi’ al-awwal, the year 616 (?) (1219-20)’

The decoration on this charming scribe's box provides a lively depiction of courtly life. Here we see hunting scenes, conversing figures and a group playing a board game. This type of pen-box was probably intended to be carried suspended from the belt of the scribe and was often found in Khurasan (see Baer 1983, p.69, no.49; Pope and Ackermann 1938-39, pl.1317; and Melikian Chirvani 1982, p.125, no.53).

The inscriptions give the name of the maker as al-Harawi. Baer identifies a group of ink wells signed by makers who used the nisba al-Naisaburi or al-Harawi (Baer 1983, p.68). A portable pen-case of similar form in the Victoria & Albert Museum dated to circa 1220-30 displays related baraka inscriptions (Melikian Chirvani 1982, p.125).