Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago

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This lacquered box from 19th century Iran has a fascinating and uncommon design. In this video, we identify the photographs and poetry lithographs that decorate the box. Then we muse on what these details tell us about its possible owner, likely one of the sons of Nasir al-Din Shah Qajar.

Speakers: Dr. Simon Rettig, Associate Curator for the Arts of the Islamic World, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, and Dr. Beth Harris, Smarthistory

Writing box with utensils, decorated with photographs of Nasir a-Din Shah, his court, and views of Paris and Tehran, Iran, 1860–65, lacquered and gilded wood with applied photographs and silver fittings, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Purchase–funds provided by the Friends of the National Museum of Asian Art, S2014.11.1. More information about this object:
https://asia.si.edu/explore-art-culture/collections/search/edanmdm:fsg_S2014.11.1/

Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art: asia.si.edu
Smarthistory: smarthistory.org