Wellcome Library.

Here are some interesting finds from Wellcome Library.

Future of Apple

As long as Apple has people lined up to its products, this company is extremely profitable. The only issue is that they have become a one dimensional company where most of their income relies on iPhone, which in my view is not going to have a sustainable growth.

Sonny's BBQ

I used to enjoy eating at Sonny's whenever I traveled to Georgia. I just noticed the company has changed its logo and website. I am not too sure if they have the same menu or not. If you are someone like me who lived down south for 15 years, you might appreciate this place.

Eating cream puff to cherish my Persian heritage

You might find it funny, but I am in love with cream puffs. The ones I used to eat in Iran were much bigger, but these mini cream puff that you can find in most North American grocery chains will do the job.

Jahanshah Javid

I consider Jahanshah Javid to be a smart and visionary dude. Back in early 2000s, his website Iranian.com was among the sites I followed on daily basis. What I like about his website was its motto that "nothing is sacred".  I find this sentence to be extremely precious since this is what the average Middle Eastern mind sets lack to comprehend. Sadly, Iranian.com does not feel like a home since he left it.

Meet Iran's scary fighter jet

Meet Iran's new fighter jet called Saegheh (thunderbolt) II. It is basically a two seat version of F-5 with two tails. I consider it more of a foolish act. since I don't think an angled tale would give stealth characteristics. The question is who are they fooling? I think it is meant for domestic propaganda since the West is well aware this jet is not a scary thunderbolt.

TD bank and Iranian students

I have an Iranian friend whose TD bank account was closed due to US government's sanctions on Iran. I don't understand. If US government admits someone on student visa, how do they except them to live here without a bank account? I don't think US is the land of rational mind anymore.

CIA didn't hired me

Since I am a native Persian speaker from the Middle East, I thought I could easily secure a job with CIA. I applied a year ago. After 5 months, I received a package from them to translate a document. I did it as best as I could and mailed them the document. Well, I have not heard back from them. So this job opportunity failed too.

P.S. the funny thing is that the Persian document they asked me to translate had so many grammatical errors.

ملک بی‌ سامان

دل خسته و جان بیقرار زین راز پنهان

 در سر سودای فریاد، گرچه بسته این لبان

   خیرهام بر عمق سیاهی در دوردست ذهنم

 تا کی‌ رخ کشد خورشید درین ملک بی‌ سامان
(تا کی‌ سحر بیاید درین ملک بی‌ سامان)

Some Random Persian Manuscript

This manuscript is another interesting piece of Persian art. I am not too certain where I exactly found it on the internet. I will post more about it if I come up with more information.

A Goddess Figure From Elam

The woman of the right is an Elamite goddess with an elaborate headdress and costume. She is holding her bare breasts in cupped hands. I took this image with my camera on my recent visit to Museum of Glassware in Iran during Christmas holidays. It seems she was made in mid 2nd millennium BC. A similar item is kept in Shush Museum in Iran [1]. I have also seen few more of such these in University of Pennsylvania's catalog as well as few antique shops. My guess is that she was some sort of fertility goddess and molded in large quantities at the time. So you might ask where Elam was? Ancient Elam was a civilization centered in the Southwest of modern-day Iran, stretching from the lowlands of what is now Khuzestan and Ilam Provinces, as well as a small part of southern Iraq.

Qajar Pen-Case

I took this picture on my visit to Malek Museum few years ago. I sill have the same cheap camera, so the quality of the photo is not too great. This is a pen-case, in which Persians stored their pens. It normally was crafted with colorful images. Most later versions were influenced by the European visual art at we could see on this item. This particular one is perhaps made in 18th or 19th century. There are many similar items which come from Qajar Dynasty. 

Lady Khorshid

I took this photo on my visit to Malek Museum. This painting is called "Khorshid Khanoom" or "The Lady Khorshid" which  is painted by the well know Persian Artist, Abolhassan Ghafari during Qajar Period. Lady Khorshid was actually the painter's cousin, who possibly acted as the matriarch to Ghaffari clan. In this image, the woman’s body language, stance and gaze is challenging to the audience to comprehend her. I do love the colorful form of her dress.

Dish with Blood Letting Scene

This dish is kept in the Museum of Islamic Art in Berlin Germany. The dish depicts a blood-letting scene. I was made in the 13th century in city of Kashan in Iran. It is made of ceramic with under- and over-glazed painting. This a rare item in which there is a medical imagery on a Persian Dish. Medieval Islamic-Persian dishes made in Kashan are truly beautiful. I hope to see this item in person one day.

Human Figured Pottery Vessel- Iran - 2nd millennium BC

I took these photos recently in the Museum of Ancient Iran. Many people are aware of Woman of Willendorf, which is a statuette of a female figure estimated to have been made around 25,000 BC in Europe. This remarkable item has similar attributes which was found in Northeastern Iran years ago. It seems for ancient people, woman's body was sacred. There are Similar objects that I will share later. The following information were printed out on the card:

 Human Figured Pottery Vessel
 2nd millennium BC
 Golestan Province, Iran.

Nadir Shah During the Sack of Delhi

This painting is about Nadir Shah's invasion of India, perhaps showing the king on horseback during the sack of Delhi. It is probably made in mid 18th century by Persian court artists. It is now kept in Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, USA. Persian invasion of India, to some extent was so cruel in terms of their plundering of the capital city of Delhi. Many were also massacred by the invaders. The city was sacked for several days. An enormous fine of 20 million rupees was levied on the people of Delhi. Muhammad Shah handed over the keys to treasury, and lost the Peacock Throne, to Nadir Shah, which thereafter served as a symbol of Persian Imperial might.

Vessel in form of female (?) figure

Ceramic

Excavated at Chekka Sabz . Western Iran, Luristan
Early 1st millennium B.C. Perhaps ca. 7th–6th century B.C.

Size: 23.82 in. (60.5 cm)

Kept in Metropolitan Museum of Art

This statuette was excavated at Chekka Sabz in Luristan. The sex of the figures remains obscure, but they are thought to be female.

Sources: Flickr [1] and  Metropolitan  Museum [2]

Persian Lacquered Book Covers

Source: [1]

Mizra Abdul Hassan Khan, The Persian Ambassador

Drawing
Place of Origin: London, England.
Era: Qajar Period.
Date: 1819.
Artist: Maxim Gauci.
Material and Technique: Watercolor over pencil.
Kept in Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK.
Source: [1]

Portrait of Mirza Abu'l Hassan Khan

Painting
oil on canvas
size: 56¾ x 45¼ in. (144.2 x 137.8 cm.)
Artist: Sir William Beechey, R.A. (1753-1839)
Sold at Christie's auction
Source: [1]

Portrait of Mirza Abu'l Hassan Khan, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of King George III, kneeling in a red cloak with a blue lining, and a white and red embroidered floral turban, holding a Koran in his right hand.

Indo-Persian Homosexual Manuscript

Manuscript.
Era: Mughal Empire or British Raj, India.
Date: 19th century.
Size: 13.2 x 20.3 cm.
Sold on an online auction.
Source: [1].

Northern India under Mughal rule was a haven for gay love. Its icon has to be Mahmud of Ghazni, who deeply loved his boy slave, Ayaz. Their love has become a paragon of ideal love, perhaps analogous to that of Romeo and Juliet in the West. In a telling anecdote, Mahmud asks Ayaz, "who is the most powerful ruler in the world?" "I am the most powerful," Ayaz, the beloved slave replies. The confused king asks his slave boy to explain. "You, Mahmud, are the most powerful of all kings," says Ayaz. "But since I rule your heart, I am more powerful still." In popular lore the two were said to be each other's slave, Ayaz a slave in deed and Mahmud a slave of love. [2]

19th Century Indo-Persian Erotic Illuminated Leaf

Manuscript.
Era: Mughal Empire/ British Raj, India.
Date: 19th century.
Size: 13.2 x 20.3 cm.
Sold on an online auction.
Source: [1].

Since some people take these images without giving any credit to this blog, I have decided to watermark them from now on.

A Safavid Embroidered Silk Fabric

Silk Fabric
Safavid Period, Iran.
Date: 18th century.
Size: 17 x 10.5 cm
Sold at Sotheby's Auction
Source: [1]

This textile is among well preserved examples of Safavid textile design. It features a colorful floral bouquet within an arabesque outline with a petaled border.

Green Bust of Parthian Man

Male bust of a nobleman
Parthian period, Iran
Made of Green Turquoise
Pahlavi Library Collection, Tehran, Iran
Source: [1]

بالاتنه یک مرد اشکانی ساخته شده از فیروزه سبز

The Parthian Empire (247 BC – 224 AD), also known as the Arsacid Empire, was a major Iranian political and cultural power in ancient Persia. Its latter name comes from Arsaces I of Parthia  who, as leader of the Parni tribe, founded it in the mid-3rd century BC when he conquered the Parthia region in Iran's northeast, then a satrapy (province) in rebellion against the Seleucid Empire. Mithridates I of Parthia (r. c. 171–138 BC) greatly expanded the empire by seizing Media and Mesopotamia from the Seleucids. At its height, the Parthian Empire stretched from the northern reaches of the Euphrates, in what is now south-eastern Turkey, to eastern Iran. The empire, located on the Silk Road trade route between the Roman Empire in the Mediterranean Basin and Han Empire of China, became a center of trade and commerce.

Mirza Abul Hassan Khan Ambassador Extraordinary to England

Lithograph
Place of origin: London, England.
Era: Qajar Period.
Date: 19th Century (1819).
Materials and technique: Lithograph, colored by hand.
Size: 37 x 26.9.
Artist: Maxim Gauci.
Kept in Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK.
Sources: [1], [2].

This lithograph which is colored by hand is entitled 'His Excellency Mirza Abul Hassan Khan Ambassador Extraordinary'. Lettered with title and 'from his Majesty the Shah of Persia to H.R.H. the Prince Regent of Great Britain. To His Excellency Sir Gore Ouseley Bart K.L.S. K.A.S. late Ambassador Extraordinary to the Court of Persia. 

Group Portrait of The Staff of The Imperial Bank of Persia

Photo.
Era: Qajar Period, Persia.
Date: 1890-1891.
Dimensions: 16 x 20.9 cm.
Kept in the Tropenmuseum, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Source: [1]
I found this image online on the website. The description was in Dutch saying "Groepsportret met het personeel van de Imperial Bank of Persia, Teheran" which can be translated as Group portrait of the staff members of the Imperial Bank of Persia, Tehran, Persia. According to Wikipedia, the Tropenmuseum (meaning Museum of the Tropics) is an anthropological museum located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It has been established in 1864.

12th Century Bowl

I took this photo in Glassware Museum in Tehran, Iran. This beautiful bowl was made in 12th century in Eastern Iran. At that period human images started to show up in such dishes even though Islamic teachings normally approve floral designs. I particularly loved the color of this ceramic bowl.The central image is a human on a horseback. It is simple yet elegant.

Sassanian silver plate

Sassanian Period
Pergamon Museum, Berlin Germany
Source: Flickr [1]

It is often possible to identify Sassanid rulers by their distinctive personal crowns, as the representations are accompanied by their names on certain sculptures and coins.

A Qajar Gem-set Enameled Gold Pendant in The Form of an Eagle

 Pendant
Era: Qajar Period, Persia.
Date: 19th Century.
Size: 6 cm.
Material: enameled gold.
Sold on Bonhams.
Source: [1]

This is a Qajar gem-set enameled gold pendant in the form of an eagle. A pendant (from Old French) word "pendre" and the Latin word "pendere" which means "to hang down" is a loose-hanging piece of jewelery. This Persian pendant belongs to 19th Century. Its wings are outspread, and the wings are each with a cabochon ruby. In the center, portrait of a maiden with floral motifs, with seed pearl suspensions can be seen. The bird is 6 cm. high.

A Pair of Qajar Enameled Gold Earrings

Earrings.
Era: Qajar Period, Persia.
Date: 19th Century.
Material: Enameled gold.
Size: 10 cm high.
Sold on Bonhams.
Source: [1]

Each of these earrings is in the form of a hemisphere decorated with pink, green, blue and white enamel in floral designs with birds, surmounted by a smaller ribbed hemisphere similarly enameled, seed pearls suspended from each hemisphere; with a pendant drop with seed pearls and glass beads, with suspension loops.

Mirror Case With Pictures of Saint Mary and Baby Jesus Christ

Mirror case.
Era: Qajar Period, Persia.
Date: 19th Century.
Kept in a museum in Iran.
Source: [1]

This is a painting on a rectangular mirror case with pictures of Saint Mary and baby Jesus. He is the central figure of Christianity and whom most Christian denominations worship as the Son of God.

Portrait of Murtaza Kuli Khan, Brother of Agha Mohammad Khan, the Persian Shah by Vladimir Borovikovsky

Painting.
Origin: Russian Empire.
Date: 1796.
Style: Rococo.
Materials and Techniques: Oil on canvas.
Size: 189.5 x 284 cm.
Kept in Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia.
Sources: [1],[2],[3], [4].

مرتضی قلی خان قاجار، برادر آغا محمد خان قاجار که به روسیه فرار کرد و از عوامل برانگیزاننده لشگرکشی روسیه به ایران در زمان کاترین و به سرکردگی زبوف بوده

This painting has been created by Vladimir Lukich Borovikovsky (Russian: Владимир Лукич Боровиковский, Ukrainian: Володимир Лукич Боровиковський July 24 O.S. 1757 - April 6 O.S. 1825) who was a Russian painter of Ukrainian origin. He dominated Russian portraiture at the turn of the 19th century. 

Erotic Persian Painting On Ivory

Painting.
Era: Possibly Qajar Dynasty, Persia.
Date: circa 1900 or earlier.
Techniques and Material: Painting on ivory.
Size: 3 1/2 X 2 3/4 inches.
Source: [1].

This painting depicts a nude bathing with attendant and onlookers/horses in the brush, circa 1900 or earlier, illegible signature verso.

Possibly Erotic Persian Manuscript in Sex Museum in Amsterdam

Manuscript.
Era: I am not sure.
Kept in Sex museum Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Source: [1].

I randomly found this image on the Internet. It is on a display in Amsterdam. From the look of it, I think it is written in Persian, but I can't figure out the period that it was made.

An Erotic Qajar Lacquer Mirror Case

Mirror Case.
Era: Qajar Dynasty, Persia.
Date: late 19th Century.
Size: 12.5 x 7.1 cm.
Sold at Bonhams Auction.
Source: [1]

آینه اروتیک دوره قاجار با ۳ تصویر. حراجی بونامز

This mirror is decorated with a partially clothed maiden holding a dove to the reverse, a maiden performing an erotic dance to the front and a couple in an erotic embrace to the interior. The borders are decorated with scrolling foliate (leaves or leaflike motifs) vines.

Studio Portrait of Mozaffar al-Din Shah in Informal Attire

Sources: [1], [2]

Painting of A Qajar Couple

Painting.
Origin: Qajar Period, Persia.
Date: 19th Century.
Material and Technique: Gouache on paper.
Size: 26.6 x 18.5 cm.
Sold at Christie's auction.
Source: [1].

This painting shows a seated couple hand in hand, with the woman's hand in the man's lap.

A Portrait of Qajar Dervish

Painting.
Origin: Qajar Dynasty, Persia.
Date: 19th Century.
Material ans Technique: Gouache on paper.
Size: 22.8 x 16 cm.
Sold at Christie's auction.
Source: [1]

In this painting, a young dervish is shown wearing blue robe holding a beggar's crutch and flowers, with signature inscription cartouche to the left, on a ground of flowers. A dervish is a member of any of various Muslim ascetic orders, some of which perform whirling dances and vigorous chanting as acts of ecstatic devotion.

Portrait of a Son of Fath Ali Shah Qajar

Painting
Origin: Qajar Dynasty, Persia.
Date: circa 1815.
Material and Technique: Oil on canvas.
Sold at Christie's auction.
Size: 69 x 43 cm.
Source: [1]

This painting is a bust portrait of a son of Fath Ali Shah, wearing a high Qajar crown and elaborately jeweled collar on his sleeves, with pendant just visible through the his long black beard.

Qajar Still Life Paintings

Painting.

Origin: Qajar Dynasty, Iran.
Date: early 19 century.
Size: 91 cm x 77 cm.
Sold on an auction.

Source: [1]

Still life as a genre entered Persian painting in the late 18th century when the influential artist Mirza Baba (who worked for Fath Ali Shah) began to fill the foreground of his architectural paintings with arrangements of over-sized ripe fruit, a natural counterpoint to the man made lavish palace architecture beyond.

A Sample of Artifacts Under Restoration in Malek Museum

Source: [1]

This is a sample of the collection of artifacts that are kept and restored in Malek Museum and Library in Tehran. To view more images, click on the link.

Persian prince in India - Mughal Period

This painting shows a Persian prince in India. I am guessing that he is a member of Afsharid dynasty due to the form of his headgear. The painting is kept in Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, USA. I believe it was made sometime around 18th-19th century during Mughal Period in India. Emperor Nadir Shah, the Shah of Iran (1736–47) and founder of the Afsharid dynasty, invaded Northern India with a fifty-five thousand strong army, eventually attacking Delhi in March 1739 where he sacked the city, after issuing orders for a general massacre to take place. Afsharid invasion had harsh consequences for Indians leading to their subjugation by British in the years to come.

Bronze Animal Figures - Seljuk Period

Animal Figures.
Era: Seljuk/ Seljuq Period.
Location: Iran or Anatolia.
Date: 12-13 centuries.
Material: Bronze.
Kept in the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Istanbul, Turkey.
Source: [1].

These cute figurines belong to Seljuk Period and are kept in Istanbul. They might have been used as decorative ornaments.

Bronze Oil Lamps - Seljuk/Seljuq Period

Oil Lamps.
Era: Seljuq/Seljuk Dynasty.
Location: Persia or Anatolia.
Date: 12th century.
Material: Bronze.
Kept in the Museum Of Turkish And Islamic Arts, Istanbul, Turkey.
Source: [1].

I found this image on flicker. It is a rare example of Seljuk era oil lamps which are kept in the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts in Istanbul.

Saucer With Astrological Decoration - Qajar Period

Saucer.
Period: Qajar Era, Iran.
Date: 1797 to 1834.
Materials and Techniques: Enameling on precious metals.
Size: 12.7 cm in diameter.
Kept in Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, UK.
Source: [1]

نعلبکی و قاشق دوره قاجار - موزه دانشگاه آکسفورد

The art of enameling on precious metals, which had enjoyed increasing importance in Iran under the Safavids (1501-1722), received lavish patronage during the Qajar period. Water pipe bases, swords and daggers, mirrors, and snuff-boxes are some of the types of objects which were painted with enamels. Numerous signed and dated pieces survive, many of which date to the times of Fath Ali Shah, the Qajar ruler of Iran from 1797 to 1834.

This whole set is decorated with cycles of astrological symbols and figures. The twelve signs of the zodiac and the six major constellations are depicted on the body of the bowl, the animals of the Far Eastern zodiacal tradition on its lid, and the seven planets on the saucer. Tiny inscriptions identify the images on the bowl and those along the rim of the saucer, while the animals on the lid are named in the lines of poetry beneath them. Two crowned heads and human-faced suns decorate the front and back of the spoon, and a human-faced sun also appears in green enamel on the back of the saucer. Lines of poetry arranged in cartouches around the rim of the saucer dedicate this set to Fath ‘Ali Shah.

The inscription below the image at the center of the saucer bears the name of the enameler, Baqir, preceded by the title ‘slave born in the household’. According to Basil W. Robinson, who worked extensively on Qajar material and published this set in some detail, this formula should be understood as ‘artist of the royal workshops’ or ‘in royal service’. Baqir was one of the leading enamelers at Fath ‘Ali Shah’s court. Very few enameled pieces signed by him are known to survive to this day, and nearly all of them belong to the collection of the Imperial Crown Jewels of Iran, in Tehran.

A high level of detail and a bright palette characterize the production of this period. The enamelers’ skill is further emphasized by the typically small dimension of these works – the saucer of the Ashmolean set measures only 12.7 cm in diameter.

Parthian statuette, found at Babylon

Nude woman, Parthian, found at Babylon
Pergamon Museum, Berlin, Germany
Source: Flickr [1]

Iskander (Alexander) is Watching the Sirens

Painting.
Era: Safavid Period, Iran.
Date: 1541.
Materials and Techniques: Miniatures, Gouache.
Size: 17.6 x 14 cm.
Kept in Hermitage Museum, Russia.
Sources: [1],[2].

This is another example of nude art in Safavid Period. It is permanently kept in the State Hermitage Museum.

کلک خیالم

آمدی و نم نم باران رمقی بر دل‌ پر عطش دمیده

عطر شکوفه سیب در خلوت این باغ چو خوش پیچیده

چشمها بسته و رنجور ولی‌، حاضری در کلک خیالم

دیدن چهرهٔ ماهت به شادی، خط بر همه تیرگی کشیده

A Parthian King

A Parthian king, perhaps Phraates IV
Pergamon Museum, Berlin, Germany
Source: Flickr [1]