Lot 205: A SET OF TWELVE PERSIAN QAJAR EROTIC MINIATURE PAINTINGS, 19TH CENTURY

A set of twelve individual miniature paintings executed in the style of the Persian Qajar period, dating to the late 19th or early 20th century. The works are rendered in gouache and ink on paper and have been mounted onto individual cardstock leaves in shades of tan, cream, and blue. Each miniature depicts a distinct erotic scene, primarily featuring heterosexual couples in various sexual positions. The figures are rendered with characteristic Qajar aesthetics, including heavy, joined eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, and rosy cheeks. Subjects are dressed in period-appropriate Persian attire such as tunics, loose trousers, and headgear, including a tall black felt cap. The scenes are set within interior domestic spaces decorated with patterned rugs and ornate drapery in shades of red, purple, and orange. Background windows provide views of landscapes with stylized trees and blue skies. One scene depicts a figure engaged with a donkey. A vertical inscription in black Perso-Arabic script is located on the left side of one tan mount.

31 x 20cm each 

Provenance: Mahmoud Khayami Collection