Asian Arts

The rectangular chest with hinged cover with curved sides, over a fall front, opening to reveal one long drawer over five arrayed drawers decorated with cartouches and scrollwork; the top of the chest and the front depicting battle scenes, the first possibly depicting Nader Shah, founder of the Afsharid dynasty of Iran, defeating the Mughal forces of Muhammed Shah at the battle of Karnal in 1739, one side of the chest painted with a mounted bejeweled lady and companions, admiring the hunting prowess of a prince, possibly depicting an episode where Bahram Gur pins a leg of a gazelle to its ear with an arrow, the other side panel painted with a prince and his retinue coming upon a bejeweled lady bathing in a stream (likely Khusraw discovering Shirin bathing); the back and the interior of the fall front with floral cartouches and calligraphic border reserves., the sides of the cover with portrait cartouches and flowers.