Hand-painted Qajar Lacquer Box with Chaugun (Polo) Players pattern test as is often the case

as is often the case with these sorts of scrapbooks

where the paint build up is about 3/4 of an inch deep

sturdy and not fragile

and know that these flasks were very popular with soldiers

Hand-painted Qajar Lacquer Box with Chaugun (Polo) Players pattern test as is often the caseSo 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