*A QAJAR LACQUERED PAPIER-MÂCHÉ PEN CASE ( QALAMDAN ) PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT EUROPEAN PRIVATE COLLECTION Iran, 19th century With rounded ends and sliding tray, the top painted in a horizontal composition with an evening scene of a lady in Indian dress with two attendants visiting a scribe writing by candlelight, flanked by scenes of elegant families, one side with a lion hunt, the other with Khosrow meeting Shirin bathing in the stream, the male and female domains separated by a floral chador held up by an older chaperone, the base and underside in lacquer red, the interior in black, 22.3cm x 3.5cm x 4cm.