This item has been added to the Database within the Explore Islamic Art Collections project. Information is available in: English, Arabic.

Name of Object:

Pen box

Location:

Doha, Qatar

Holding Museum:

Museum of Islamic Art

About Museum of Islamic Art, Doha

Date of Object:

Hegira 7th century / AD 13th century

Museum Inventory Number:

MW.221.2003

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Brass, Gold, Silver; Inlaying

Dimensions:

Height: 4 cm; width: 19.8 cm; depth: 4.6 cm

Period / Dynasty:

Ilkhanid

Provenance:

West Iran

Description:

This pen box is entirely decorated with small birds and animals in roundels set against dense latticework patterning. The inscription on the case cover denotes that it was made for the Ilkhanid ruler’s vizier, Shams al-Din Juvaini, an important minister, scholar, and poet who used his great wealth to support scientists, philosophers and theologians. This pencase represents a fine example of a luxury object commissioned for a known figure.

How Object was obtained:

Sotheby's London, Arts of the Islamic World, 30 April 2003, Sale L03220 Lot 68

Selected bibliography:

Al Khemir, Sabiha, From Cordoba To Samarqand, Masterpieces from the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Milan: Musée du Louvre Editions, 2006.

Citation of this web page:

Tara Desjardins "Pen box" in Explore Islamic Art Collections. Museum With No Frontiers, 2025.
https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;EPM;qt;Mus21;24;en

Prepared by: Tara Desjardins

MWNF Working Number: QT 24