Pen case, painted and lacquered papier mâché
Turkey; 1st half of 18th century
L: 22.5; Diam: 4 cm
Inventory number 31/1977
Cylindrical pen cases are fairly rare. In contrast to angular boxes, their form makes it natural for decoration to continue around uninterrupted.
The vegetal decoration on this pen case, with chrysanthemum-like flowers contoured in gold, can be described as a late and gaudy version of the “international Timurid style,” which had already influenced Ottoman decorative art since the beginning of the 16th century. The pen case’s decoration is thus closely related to several pieces in lacquer that were all made in the sultans’ workshop in the Topkapi palace complex in Istanbul and signed by Ali Üsküdari in the period 1723-1757.
The vegetal decoration on this pen case, with chrysanthemum-like flowers contoured in gold, can be described as a late and gaudy version of the “international Timurid style,” which had already influenced Ottoman decorative art since the beginning of the 16th century. The pen case’s decoration is thus closely related to several pieces in lacquer that were all made in the sultans’ workshop in the Topkapi palace complex in Istanbul and signed by Ali Üsküdari in the period 1723-1757.
Published in
Published in
Kjeld von Folsach: Islamic art. The David Collection, Copenhagen 1990, cat.no. 15;
Kjeld von Folsach: Art from the World of Islam in The David Collection, Copenhagen 2001, cat.no. 92;
Kjeld von Folsach: Art from the World of Islam in The David Collection, Copenhagen 2001, cat.no. 92;
