Cosmetic case for a man

The craft of lacquerwork was widely practised in Iran from the 16th century up to the 19th century, and master artists in Esfahan or Teheran supplied the lacquerwork requirements both of the court and of the upper circles of society. The main subjects illustrated are life at court, the legendary history of Iran and religious themes based on the Koran and the Old and New Testaments. The mirror and cosmetic case above is a nice example of the considerable influence European Baroque painting had on Iranian lacquerwork particularly during the Qajar epoch.