Pen Box with Flowers and Birds 1881 - 1882

Curator: At the Harvard Art Museums, we have a pen box by Mirza Mustafa Shirazi, adorned with flowers and birds. It measures roughly 22 centimeters in length. Editor: What strikes me immediately is the darkness of the background. The flowers almost seem to be emerging from a shadowy depth. Curator: These pen boxes served a specific purpose, holding writing instruments, but they also became canvases for expressing deeper cultural values and symbolic meanings. The birds, for instance, often represent the soul or spiritual aspirations. Editor: And the production itself – the layering of lacquer, the precise brushstrokes on such a small scale. We see the material transformed through labor into something precious. Curator: Yes, it reflects the cultural memory associated with manuscript illumination and miniature painting, echoing themes of paradise gardens and idealized nature. Editor: Considering its function and decoration, it suggests a fascinating intersection of utility and artistry. Curator: Indeed, it prompts us to think about the cultural importance placed on writing implements themselves. Editor: This piece really makes you appreciate how objects carry cultural weight.