Process, step by step
- Prepare support
- Paint composition
- Apply protective finishing layers
Variations
Iranian pen boxes often combine painting and lacquered coating.
Conservation
Avoid sunlight, heat and solvents.
Painting under varnish
Persian lacquer painting (naqqashi-ye laki) paints on papier-mâché or wood, then seals with layers of varnish. Pen boxes, mirror cases and book covers flourished in Safavid and Qajar times.
Attribution
Signatures such as those of the Imami family are prized but sometimes added later. Collection records and provenance matter more than a name.
Care
Varnish cracks with heat and dryness; never use solvents or polish.
Practical questions
- Is the signature reliable? Not by itself.
- Can I polish it? No.
| Observation | Useful description | Not established |
|---|---|---|
| Glossy painted box | Lacquer painting | Qajar date |
| Signature | Name claim | Authorship |
| Crackle | Varnish ageing | Age |
References and further reading
- [1] H. E. Wulff, The Traditional Crafts of Persia, MIT Press, 1966; A. U. Pope & P. Ackerman, A Survey of Persian Art, 1938–39.Historical context; not evidence for an individual object.
- [2] Encyclopaedia Iranica ↗Peer-reviewed entries on crafts, motifs and terms.
These sources provide context, not authentication or provenance for an individual object. Editorial interpretations remain under review.
Used in these crafts
A decorative technique in which papier-mâché or wooden objects, such as boxes, mirror cases and pen boxes, are painted with fine miniature-style scenes or floral ornament and then sealed under multiple coats of clear lacquer varnish.