Important coffre relatant la vie de Yusuf (Jo... Lot n° 43

An important Qajar lacquer casket depicting stages of Prophet Yusuf's life, Persia, 19th century or earlier Rectangular in shape, resting on four rectangular feet at each corner, the domed, hingeless lid is made of lacquered papier-mâché with polychrome decoration and gold highlights, polychrome-decorated with large, varied scenes. The decorative leitmotif of this box is the various stages in the life of the prophet Yusuf (Joseph). The lid depicts his consecration (or entrônement), while the sides show Yusuf as a young shepherd, Yusuf in conversation with Zulaykha; his trial symbolized by the scales; Yusuf's sale as a slave, Yusuf interpreting Pharaoh's dreams, Yusuf in the service of Zuleykha. These scenes are framed by three borders of floral scrolls, foliage or tchis clouds on a red or black background, and interspersed with medallions featuring bouquets of flowers, horsemen and hunting scenes. Condition: some chips and lifting, varnish cracks. H. 42 x W. 71 x D. 49 cm Provenance : Former Nasseh Nategh collection, then by descent to his daughter Homa Nategh (1934-2016), historian and professor of contemporary Iran. This very large box, one of the largest referenced, can be compared with a box of similar style, which shares the same shape, imposing proportions - although smaller than the present box - and secondary ornamentation (Museum für Islamische Kunst, Berlin, Inv. n°I. 4655). This chest is signed by a certain Yusuf and dated to the Safavid era (1018 H. =1609). The actual dating of this type of box is debatable. Leyla Diba considers the Berlin box to be a 19th-century production, and that the dating is apocryphal (cf. L. S. Diba, Lacquerwork of Safavid Persia and its relationship to Persian Painting, 1994, cat. 107). However, Karim Zadeh Tabrizi dates the same case to the Safavid period (cf. Aḥvâl wa âtâr-i naqqâshân-i qadîm-i Irân wa barẖî az mashâhîr-i nigârʹgar-i Hind wa ʻUsthmânî, 1985, n°1441, p. 1428.). An important Qajar lacquer casket depicting stages of Prophet Yusuf's life, Persia, 19th century or earlier This very large casket, one of the largest known, is similar in style to a casket of the same shape, with imposing proportions - although smaller than the present casket - and the same secondary ornamentation (Museum für Islamische Kunst, Berlin, Inv. no. I. 4655). This chest is signed by a certain Yusuf and dated to the Safavid era (AH 1018 = 1609). The actual dating of this type of chest is open to debate. Leyla Diba considers that the Berlin exemplar was produced in the 19th century, and that the dating is apocryphal (cf. L. S. Diba, Lacquerwork of Safavid Persia and its relationship to Persian Painting, 1994, cat. 107). However Karim Zadeh Tabrizi dates the same box to the Safavid period (cf. Aḥvâl wa âtâr-i naqqâshân-i qadîm-i Irân wa barẖî az mashâhîr-i nigârʹgar-i Hind wa ʻUsthmânî, 1985, no. 1441, p. 1428.).