I guess this nice oriental box is Persian (Iranian) but I'm not sure. May be Van? I checked - it's silver. I’m interesting for the origin and age of the box and what the mark on the box means.
Thanks in advance.
Help with attribution of oriental box
Help with attribution of oriental box
Hello!
I guess this nice oriental box is Persian (Iranian) but I'm not sure. May be Van? I checked - it's silver. I’m interesting for the origin and age of the box and what the mark on the box means.
Thanks in advance.
I guess this nice oriental box is Persian (Iranian) but I'm not sure. May be Van? I checked - it's silver. I’m interesting for the origin and age of the box and what the mark on the box means.
Thanks in advance.
Re: Help with attribution of oriental box
Hello!
Are there really no opinions?
Are there really no opinions?
Re: Help with attribution of oriental box
Hello
It is interesting that the same mark has surfaced twice recently.
See https://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopi ... 64#p217064
It reads عمل جعفر, (?amal Jafer) or "made by Jafar". Could also be Jafary since the mark is well worn. This must be Persian or northern Indian.
There is a Persian silversmith named Jafary whose mark appears on the National Museum of Scotland site at https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-colle ... ollection/
However, it is not the same mark as on these two pieces.
The figural representation on Ubaranda's piece with musicians and wine bearers has a strong Persian influence but the expected 84 purity mark is absent which makes me doubt Iran
The vine decoration on the tea set seems more Kashmiri. See examples at https://silverfromindia1850-1920.blogsp ... shmir.html, Also a three piece tea set is most certainly colonial and, on that count, India is more likely than Iran
Hope this prompts further discussion
Happy New Year
Damon
It is interesting that the same mark has surfaced twice recently.
See https://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopi ... 64#p217064
It reads عمل جعفر, (?amal Jafer) or "made by Jafar". Could also be Jafary since the mark is well worn. This must be Persian or northern Indian.
There is a Persian silversmith named Jafary whose mark appears on the National Museum of Scotland site at https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-colle ... ollection/
However, it is not the same mark as on these two pieces.
The figural representation on Ubaranda's piece with musicians and wine bearers has a strong Persian influence but the expected 84 purity mark is absent which makes me doubt Iran
The vine decoration on the tea set seems more Kashmiri. See examples at https://silverfromindia1850-1920.blogsp ... shmir.html, Also a three piece tea set is most certainly colonial and, on that count, India is more likely than Iran
Hope this prompts further discussion
Happy New Year
Damon
Re: Help with attribution of oriental box
Hello Damon!
Many thanks for your reply!
I found a cup with the mark of maker Jafar on the Internet but its country of origin is not known (photos 1 and 2). I also found a box without stamps with a design similar to my box, which is attributed as Persian using the Ghalam-zani technique (photo 3).
With a high degree of probability I am inclined to believe that my box is Persian, but I still want to know its age and the city of manufacture.
Regards. Alex.
Many thanks for your reply!
I found a cup with the mark of maker Jafar on the Internet but its country of origin is not known (photos 1 and 2). I also found a box without stamps with a design similar to my box, which is attributed as Persian using the Ghalam-zani technique (photo 3).
With a high degree of probability I am inclined to believe that my box is Persian, but I still want to know its age and the city of manufacture.
Regards. Alex.
Re: Help with attribution of oriental box
Hello Alex
I did a search and there are a fair number of pieces on various sites described as Persian and marked Jafar.
The quality of the work varies and the marks are not always displayed but the iconography is Persian. You are correct in your attribution,
Without knowing the dates of a particular silver smith, it is difficult to be precise about age of the piece and location of the workshop
In the absence of any information about Jafar, Isfahan seems like a likely choice since it is a major centre of metal work and other crafts.
See details about the ebb and flow of various Isfahani crafts at
https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/ ... rettyPhoto
The missing 84 stamp (in either Persian or European form) as an indicator of purity remains perplexing.
I am interested to know what other members think
Regards
Damon
I did a search and there are a fair number of pieces on various sites described as Persian and marked Jafar.
The quality of the work varies and the marks are not always displayed but the iconography is Persian. You are correct in your attribution,
Without knowing the dates of a particular silver smith, it is difficult to be precise about age of the piece and location of the workshop
In the absence of any information about Jafar, Isfahan seems like a likely choice since it is a major centre of metal work and other crafts.
See details about the ebb and flow of various Isfahani crafts at
https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/ ... rettyPhoto
The missing 84 stamp (in either Persian or European form) as an indicator of purity remains perplexing.
I am interested to know what other members think
Regards
Damon
Re: Help with attribution of oriental box
Hello Damon!
Thank you for supporting my opinion and for the interesting link.
It is known that the fineness mark 84 or ۸۴ began to be used in Persia at the end of the 19th century. It is possible that silver objects without this mark were made before this time.
Thank you for supporting my opinion and for the interesting link.
It is known that the fineness mark 84 or ۸۴ began to be used in Persia at the end of the 19th century. It is possible that silver objects without this mark were made before this time.