Pen Box and Glass Case 1825 - 1875

Editor: This is a decorative pen box and what's called a glass case made by Fathallah Shirazi sometime between 1825 and 1875. The medium appears to be primarily wood, with some drawings. The detailed design feels so delicate. What strikes you about this work? Curator: Well, immediately, I think about the history embedded in such a crafted object. Consider who possessed it. Writing, traditionally a male dominated field, and the preciousness of the tools—it speaks to class, privilege, and access to knowledge within a specific patriarchal structure. Editor: That's interesting. I was mainly drawn to the aesthetic beauty, but you're right. There is a socio-political element here that is embedded in something so beautifully decorated. Curator: Exactly! The floral and avian motifs might seem purely decorative, but we can also interpret them as symbols, perhaps linked to concepts of nature, paradise, or even power. And what about the artist? Thinking about Shirazi’s place within the social hierarchy of the time? What stories might his craft tell? Editor: I never would have thought to consider it from that perspective. It also brings to light issues of gender. For example, who produced such objects? Is there evidence women had any involvement in production, trade or consumption? Curator: Those are great questions! Examining these kinds of art objects allows us to analyze a whole intersection of class, gender and socio-economics that aren't always visible on the surface. Editor: It’s made me appreciate how decorative objects can contain layers of complex information and historical narratives! Curator: Precisely! It reminds us that beauty and utility are often intertwined with deeper cultural and political meanings.