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Rectangular mirror case with paintings of birds and flowers

This rectangular case consists of a mirror surrounded by a red frame with a botanical pattern. A lid sits within the frame. The lid is painted with a scene of a gray bird, butterflies, a cluster of hazelnuts, and a mix of red and pink flowers of various kinds and sizes. Green foliage surrounds the flowers. The back of the case is painted with an identical floral scene. The reverse of the lid has a red background with gold botanical shapes. Along the vertical center line of the lid are three loosely diamond-esque shapes. Each shape is filled with pink and white flowers and green leaves against a black background.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
2014.386
Title
Mirror Case with Flowers, Hazelnuts, Bird, and Butterfly
Classification
Mirrors
Work Type
mirror case
Date
c. 1800-1850
Places
Creation Place: Middle East, Iran
Period
Qajar period
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/351892

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Opaque watercolor, gold-colored pigments, and lacquer over brass layer on pasteboard
Dimensions
frame: 24 × 15.5 × 1.7 cm (9 7/16 × 6 1/8 × 11/16 in.)
lid: 21.5 × 13.1 × 0.5 cm (8 7/16 × 5 3/16 × 3/16 in.)

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
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.

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of A. Soudavar in memory of his mother Ezzat-Malek Soudavar
Accession Year
2014
Object Number
2014.386
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
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Descriptions

Description
Rectangular mirror case with fitted lid. The exterior faces bear a decorative scheme of mixed flowers with birds and butterflies. It is a very close match to front of the the mirror case 2014.385. On the inner face of the lid, a lobed medallion and pendants contain mixed flowers, set against a red field that is embellished with gold arabesque.

Publication History

  • Massumeh Farhad and Mary McWilliams, ed., A Collector’s Passion: Ezzat-Malek Soudavar and Persian Lacquer, Harvard Art Museums and Freer/Sackler Galleries, Smithsonian Institution (Cambridge, MA/Washington, D.C., 2017), p. 112, cat. 40

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu