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 660-682 / AD 1262-1284

Museum Inventory Number:

MW.221

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Brass, Gold, Silver; Inlaid

Dimensions:

Height: 4cm, Width: 19.8cm, Depth: 4.6cm

Period / Dynasty:

Ilkhanid

Provenance:

West Iran

Description:

This lavishly decorated pencase is of tremendous historical significance. The inscription states that this item was made to be presented by the Ilkhanid ruler to his vizier, Shams al-Din Juvaini, following an established Persian tradition. It was probably presented to the vizier by Tegüder Ahmed, the first muslim Ilkhanid ruler; however, he was overthrown and replaced by a more anti-Islamic ruler, who had Juvaini, a high-ranking muslim at the Ilkhanid court, executed.

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:

 "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

MWNF Working Number: QT 24