2014.386: Mirror Case with Flowers, Hazelnuts, Bird, and Butterfly
MirrorsThis rectangular case consists of a mirror surrounded by a red frame with a botanical pattern. A lid sits within the frame. The lid is painted with a scene of a gray bird, butterflies, a cluster of hazelnuts, and a mix of red and pink flowers of various kinds and sizes. Green foliage surrounds the flowers. The back of the case is painted with an identical floral scene. The reverse of the lid has a red background with gold botanical shapes. Along the vertical center line of the lid are three loosely diamond-esque shapes. Each shape is filled with pink and white flowers and green leaves against a black background.
Identification and Creation
- Object Number
- 2014.386
- Title
- Mirror Case with Flowers, Hazelnuts, Bird, and Butterfly
- Classification
- Mirrors
- Work Type
- mirror case
- Date
- c. 1800-1850
- Places
- Creation Place: Middle East, Iran
- Period
- Qajar period
- Persistent Link
- https://hvrd.art/o/351892
Physical Descriptions
- Medium
- Opaque watercolor, gold-colored pigments, and lacquer over brass layer on pasteboard
- Dimensions
-
frame: 24 × 15.5 × 1.7 cm (9 7/16 × 6 1/8 × 11/16 in.)
lid: 21.5 × 13.1 × 0.5 cm (8 7/16 × 5 3/16 × 3/16 in.)
Provenance
- Recorded Ownership History
-
Ezzat-Malek Soudavar, Geneva, Switzerland (by 2014), by descent; to her son Abolala Soudavar, Houston, Texas (2014), gift; to Harvard Art Museums, 2014.
Note:
Ezzat-Malek Soudavar (1913-2014) formed this collection over a period of sixty years. She purchased the works of art on the international art market.
Acquisition and Rights
- Credit Line
- Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of A. Soudavar in memory of his mother Ezzat-Malek Soudavar
- Accession Year
- 2014
- Object Number
- 2014.386
- Division
- Asian and Mediterranean Art
- Contact
- am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
- Permissions
-
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Descriptions
- Description
- Rectangular mirror case with fitted lid. The exterior faces bear a decorative scheme of mixed flowers with birds and butterflies. It is a very close match to front of the the mirror case 2014.385. On the inner face of the lid, a lobed medallion and pendants contain mixed flowers, set against a red field that is embellished with gold arabesque.
Publication History
- Massumeh Farhad and Mary McWilliams, ed., A Collector’s Passion: Ezzat-Malek Soudavar and Persian Lacquer, Harvard Art Museums and Freer/Sackler Galleries, Smithsonian Institution (Cambridge, MA/Washington, D.C., 2017), p. 112, cat. 40
Verification Level
This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu