Pencase, Iran, 19th century, Wood, lacquer, papier-mâché, paint, On loan from the Royal Ontario Museum, 975.267.2

Pencase, Iran, 19th century, Wood, lacquer, papier-mâché, paint, On loan from the Royal Ontario Museum, 975.267.2

A pencase (qalamdan), carried tucked into a shawl tied around the waist, is the symbolic badge of the scribe's vocation. While some scribes served the general public, preparing documents for those unable to write, others worked for highly educated employers, providing the artistry of their pen as a well-compensated professional service. Lacquered pen cases, made of papier-mâché or pasteboard and decorated with water-based paints, became very fashionable during the nineteenth century in Iran, reflecting the influence of European artistic traditions. This pencase with rounded ends and sliding tray shows European-style figures, while the high quality of the decoration attests to the status of the scribe.

Royal Ontario Museum

19th century

Photographer Credit: Royal Ontario Museum

Royal Ontario Museum

Dimensions: 22.6 × 4 × 4.1 cm

Materials: Wood, lacquer, papier-mâché, paint

ROM 975.267.2

Iran