Bidspirit auction | A PERSIAN HAND-PAINTED BONE LINK

A PERSIAN HAND-PAINTED BONE LINK BELT, ISFAHAN, DATED 1917. - A multi-panel link belt comprising rectangular, slightly curved panels of polished bone, joined by white metal wire loops and jump rings. Each panel is hand-painted in the Persian miniature style with a protective lacquered finish. The decorative content features a repeating sequence of three distinct themes: figural scenes depicting men and women in traditional Persian courtly dress engaged in activities such as playing the lute, drinking from small bowls, and conversation; central medallions featuring an intricate eight-pointed star shamsa with floral arabesque islimi designs in shades of red, gold, and green; and naturalistic scenes depicting gazelles in a landscape and birds perched among blossoming branches in the gul-o-bulbul style. All panels are framed by fine decorative borders of gold-toned floral scrolls and dotted patterns against a dark ground. The reverse of the bone panels features several handwritten inscriptions in pencil and ink, Souvenir Ispahan, and the date Nov 2nd 1917. Fainter marks include 150 and 1/3/27. The style of painting, subject matter, and materials are characteristic of the artisan workshops of Isfahan, Iran, during the late Qajar or early Pahlavi period. L: Approximately 72cm