Lot 24
A QAJAR POLYCHROME LACQUERED WOOD BOX
PERSIA, SIGNED AND DATED MUHAMMAD HASSAN NAQQASH, AH 1218/AD 1801-04
Auction: 09 December 2026 from 14:00 GMT
Description
of rectangular form, the sides and top profusely lacquered in polychrome with floral, vegetal and the ‘gol-o-bul-bul' motif, the lid with a narrow band along the edges containing Qur'anic verses and signed ‘The work of Muhammad Hasan Naqqash (painter), 1218', the lower borders with a repeat design of cusped cartouches with vegetal designs, the interior lacquered in red with gold detailing and black cusped cartouches containing floral motifs
Dimensions
23cm × 35.5cm × 14cm
Provenance
Private UK collection.
Footnote
Muhammad Hassan Naqqash was a court artist who served under the Qajar rulers Fath Ali Shah (r. 1797-1834) and his successor Muhammad Shah (r. 1834-48). Muhammad Hassan worked primarily in oils, making this lacquer box a rare addition to his works. A miniature of Fath ‘Ali Shah enthroned made in AH 1234/AD 1818–19 is the only dated portrait made by this artist. The main decoration of a folding games board in the Khalili Collection has also been attributed to him (inv. no. LAQ 284, see Rogers, J.M., The Arts of Islam: Masterpieces from the Khalili Collection, Thames & Hudson: 2010, pp. 386–7 cat. 470).