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.