Hand-painted Qajar Lacquer Box with Chaugun (Polo) Players paint decorated reveal so much about the

reveal so much about the times--in this case with the penmanship phrases seeming to reflect the Second Great Awakening

but even more I love the wound string and long point at the end of this wooden dowel

I’d put a hook on the back and hang it on the wall

which makes it seem as if it could function as a butter stamp as well

Hand-painted Qajar Lacquer Box with Chaugun (Polo) Players paint decorated reveal so much about theSo many lovely boxes in the world. This one is Persian, and I believe specifically Qajar period (1789 to 1925), late 19th c. or so I believe. Hand painted on lacquered papier mache, one might first think the painting on the lid depicts a battle scene, but in fact these men on horseback are playing "Chaugan," more commonly known as polo, which is believe to have originated in ancient Persia thousands of years ago; look closely and you can see they hold