Lot 33
AN ELEGANT QAJAR GOLD DAMASCENED STEEL FIGURE OF A DOVE
PERSIA, 19TH CENTURY
Auction: 09 December 2026 from 14:00 GMT
Description
standing proud and plump with its upright fan-tail, its chest, head and feathers decorated with gold damascening decorative details
Dimensions
20.5cm high
Footnote
This 19th-century Persian fan-tailed dove is an excellent example of Qajar dynasty metalwork due to its exceptional craftsmanship, dimensional form, and masterful execution of the koftgari technique. Rather than relying on a flat silhouette or a thin gold wash, the artisan forged a highly sculptural, deeply rounded body where the swelling curve of the breast perfectly balances the dramatic, sweeping flare of the upright tail. The intricate gold decoration was applied by laboriously scoring cross-hatched grooves into the steel base, pressing pure gold wire directly into the metal, and burnishing it smooth to create dense floral cartouches and delicate border patterns. This combination of advanced iron-forging and meticulously preserved inlay elevates the sculpture far beyond a standard decorative piece, making it a definitive example of high-status Persian craftsmanship.
For comparable Qajar steel birds, see Sotheby's, Defining an Era: The collection of the Late Francis Egerton and Peter Maitland, 28th April 2010, Lot 647, and; Christie's, Art of the Islamic and Indian worlds, 7th October 2008, Lot 187.