Qajar artifact found in Tehran museum

Iranian experts have discovered an exquisite artifact in Tehran's Malek Museum, which they believe was crafted by a famous Qajar painter and miniaturist.

The lacquer pen-box caught the eye of art expert Ramin Merati during a restoration project at the museum.

Merati noticed the signature of renowned Qajar painter Saniolmolk, while he was working on the pen-box, which is made of papier mache and adorned with European-style lacquer painting.

The signature is in gold and includes a date, showing that the pen box was made in 1863. The artifact is one of the 96 luxury lacquer pen boxes housed at the Malek Museum

Mirza Abolhassan Khan Ghaffari, known as Saniolmolk, is one of the most famous painters of early 19th century Iran.

Saniolmolk studied art in different Italian academies and museums in Rome, the Vatican, Florence and Venice, making copies of Italian paintings, such as Madonna Di Foligno by Raphael.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=125444§ionid=351020105.