Qajar Figural Box

This painted wooden box features figural scenes and vegetal motifs stylistically reminiscent of the earlier Safavid period. An octagonal medallion flanked by pendant motifs is centrally placed on the lid, with two elongated medallions on the front and rear of the box. Each one highlights a painted scene depicting figures enjoying music and wine in a garden. This theme continues on to the underside of the lid with six figures in a garden setting. The sides of the box bear eight-pointed stars with central rosettes. Inside are five compartments with sliding lids, and two open compartments divided into smaller pentagonal-shaped units. A small drawer with a compartment and sliding lid is located on the lower right side of the box.
A comparable box can be found in the GRASSI Museum für Angewandte Kunst Leipzig, Germany, Accession Number 1907.224, and illustrated in Neumann, p.229, no.138. While there are no figural scenes on the outside, the shape and size of the box is very similar to ours and the underside of the lid features a stylised garden scene.