Pen Box wtih Shah Isma'il at the Battle of Marv 1777 - 1778

Editor: This is Muhammad Sadiq's "Pen Box with Shah Isma'il at the Battle of Marv." It's small, but depicts a huge scene. What can you tell us about the significance of showing this battle on a pen box? Curator: This object speaks volumes about power and representation. The battle scene, showcasing Shah Isma'il's might, becomes portable, a constant reminder of Safavid authority. What does it mean to miniaturize and domesticate a scene of war? Editor: Almost like propaganda? Curator: Precisely. Consider, too, the function of a pen box. It's about literacy, knowledge, and bureaucracy. The image subtly links military power to intellectual authority. How might this pen box influence those who used it? Editor: I hadn't thought about that connection. The battle scene reinforces the power associated with writing and knowledge. Curator: Exactly. And that connection speaks volumes about the ideologies embedded within even seemingly simple objects.