{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O53755"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O53755/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM1830/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM1830/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM1830","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AM1827","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN9826","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN9827","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN9828","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN9829","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN9830","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN9831","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN9832","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KJ7250","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O53755/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O53755","accessionNumber":"763-1876","objectType":"Pen box","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"As its name suggests, the pen box <i>qalamdān </i>was a container for reed pens <i>qalam</i> and other writing implements. These usually included a small metal inkwell, which contained both ink and the floss called <i>liqah</i> which absorbed the ink and prevented it from spilling. Other scribe’s tools kept in penboxes were a penknife for cutting pens on a small board <i>qaṭ‘zan</i>, made from substances such as horn; a small spoon for adding ink; a pair of scissors for cutting paper; and a whetstone for sharpening the penknife and the scissors. \r\n\r\nThe ability to write held prestige in a society where literacy was limited, and the pen box was therefore a mark of a person of some standing. The quality and content of the pen box’s decoration reflected the status of the owner more precisely. \r\n\r\nLacquer pen boxes, with painted and varnished decoration on a base of pasteboard (also called papier mâché), came into use in the seventeenth century. The earliest dated example was made in Isfahan for Shah Sulayman Safavi (reigned 1664-1695), and by the nineteenth century huge numbers were being made with an enormous variety of decoration.\r\n\r\nThe top of this pen box shows a beardless official holding court. He was Manuchihr Khan, also known as Mu‘tamad al-Dawlah (d. 1847), a Georgian eunuch who rose to be one of the most powerful men in Iran. In 1839 and 1840 he was resident in Isfahan, and from this time on lacquer wares depicting his deeds were painted by the city’s leading painter, Muhammad Isma‘il.\r\n\n","physicalDescription":"Pasteboard penbox with a painted and lacquered depiction of twenty-six courtiers surrounding the figure of Manuchihr Khan (d. 1847), the Qajar governor of Isfahan. Manuchihr Khan, beardless, is shown seated on a rug before a window, in full regalia and with medals, with one hand upon a sword and the other holding his sash. Many of the couriters are named by inscription; they as well as Manuchihr Khan wear astrakhan hats and are shown in long tunics. The sides of the penbox depict traditional hunting scenes; the base is decorated with rinceaux in yellow on a red ground.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Isfahani, Muhammad Isma'il","id":"A17272"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":"signed"}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"pasteboard","id":"AAT162474"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pasteboard, painted and lacquered","categories":[{"text":"Personal accessories","id":"THES48912"}],"styles":[{"text":"qajar","id":"AAT21708"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"MES","id":"THES48607"},"images":["2006AM1830","2006AM1827","2015HN9826","2015HN9827","2015HN9828","2015HN9829","2015HN9830","2015HN9831","2015HN9832","2017KJ7250"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"018","id":"THES367283"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"pen case","id":"x35434"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Iran","id":"x30220"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"Isfahan","id":"x28926"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"probably"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1847","earliest":"1847-01-01","latest":"1847-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"The dated is painted by Muhammad Isma'il as 1264 AH/1847 AD."}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Lent by the Board of Trustees of the Victoria and Albert Museum.","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"25","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Penbox, painted and lacquered pasteboard, Iran (probably Isfahan), Qajar period, 1847. Made by Muhammad Isma'il Isfahani","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Diba, Layla S. & Ekhitar, Maryam<i>Royal Persian Paintings: The Qajar Epoch, 1785-1925 </i> London, 1998","id":"AUTH353276"},"details":"pp.229-30","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Muhammad Ismail was son of Aqa Baba and the younger brother of Najaf Ali. Most of the 26 figures on this pen-case are actual portraits of courtiers, many with their names written beside them. In the centre is Manuchihr Khan, a Georgian eunuch famed for his cruelty and love of torture. He was however one of the most powerful men in the land; at the time this penbox was made he was Governor of Isfahan.","date":{"text":"5 June 2000","earliest":"2000-06-05","latest":"2000-06-05"}},{"text":"70\r\nMuhammad Isma'il Isfahani (active 1847-1872)\r\nPenbox Depicting Manuchihr Khan Mu'tamid al-Dawleh \r\n(Governor of Isfahan)\r\n\r\nIsfahan, signed and dated AH 1264 (AD1847-48)\r\nPasteboard, painted with an opaque watercolour under lacquer\r\nLent by the Board of Trustees of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 763-1876","date":{"text":"July 1999","earliest":"1999-07-01","latest":"1999-07-31"}},{"text":"Jameel Gallery\r\n\r\nPen Box with Court Reception\r\nIran, probably Isfahan\r\n1840-50\r\n\r\nThe top shows a beardless official holding court. He was Manuchihr Khan, a Georgian eunuch who rose to be one of the most powerful men in Iran. In 1839-40 he served as governor of Isfahan, and from this time lacquer wares depicting his deeds were painted by the city's leading artist, Muhammad Isma'il. \r\n\r\nPasteboard, paint, gold and varnish. Signed by Muhammad Isma'il Isfahani\r\n\r\nMuseum no. 763-1876","date":{"text":"2006-2013","earliest":"2006-01-01","latest":"2013-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["763-1876"],"accessionNumberNum":"763","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1876,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN2622","2019LP9324","2019LW9864"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2001-02-01","availableToBook":true}}