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Zand Dynasty Style Pierced Brass Incense Burners in the Form of Peacocks, Partially Encrusted with Turquoise Stones – Qajar Dynasty, Possibly Isfahan-Iran, C. 1870s.

Identification Number: 640
Available

Description

This remarkable pair of Zand Dynasty style hollow brass with pierced decoration and set with turquoise stone incense burners, crafted in the form of peacocks, dates to the Qajar period, 19th-century Iran. Each piece is exquisitely made from several individually constructed parts, demonstrating exceptional Persian craftsmanship and technical sophistication.

The peacocks stand on finely worked octagonal bases supported by eight elegant legs. The bodies are designed to open at the centre, revealing a compartment intended for burning incense, when in use allowing perfumed smoke to rise gracefully through the pierced floral patterns, producing a captivating interplay of light, scent, and form.

The separate wings slot neatly into side openings, while the detachable tails fit into corresponding sockets at the back.

Each head is also individually made, crowned with a small finial that mirrors the peacock’s natural crest, the wings of the birds have some different type of decorations, one is engraved with snakes amidst floral decorations whereas the other one is decorated with floral openwork decorations and inset with turquoise stones, the eyes of both pairs are set with turquoise stones.

The pierced decoration throughout the body, wings, and tail features a continuous sequence of palmettes framed by intricate floral openwork designs. The engraved surfaces are richly adorned with human figures dressed in varied Persian garments, surrounded by stylised foliage and decorative motifs.

The rounded tails are further embellished with depictions of mythical creatures and legendary personalities or supernatural spirits or jinn (dJinn), finely detailed and symbolically expressive.

The burners are partially encrusted with turquoise stones, these incense burners combine delicate ornamentation with elegant functionality.

This pair stands as a masterful example of Persian metalwork, reflecting the artistic harmony between Zand-period aesthetics and Qajar-era refinement—a true testament to the ingenuity and beauty of 19th-century Iranian craftsmanship.

Dimensions

The dimensions of the first bird:
The Height of the first bird is 69cm
The width of the tail 30cm
The width crosses over the body including the wings is 25 cm.
The dimension of the octagonal base is 23cm.

Dimensions of the second bird:
The Height of the first bird is 65cm.
The width of. The tail 30.2 cm.
The width crosses over the body including the wings is 25 cm.
The dimension of the octagonal base is 18cm.

Condition

Very good, brass metal oxidisation or tarnishing to the backside of the bird's tails, some lead soldering and tinned areas to one of the wings also some few soldered spots around the backside of the bird tails.

Provence

The European Art Market.

References

References:

Tulips & Peacocks, William Morris & Art From The Islamic World, Edited by Rowan Bain, Yale University Press, New Haven and London, in Association with William Morris Gallery, 2014, ISBN: 978-0-300-27616-9.

Please see the similarity between our current lot and the brass burners exhibited back page of this book also other related items and literature (MORRIS AND THE BURLINGTON FINE ARTS CLUB EXHIBITION) on pages 6, 21, figure 6, illustrations pages 82-84, also figure 2, the 1896s photograph of the dining room at Kelmscott House, Hammersmith, Photographed by Emery Walker-page 94.

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