Audience scene between Shâh Tahmâsp and Humâyun, Iran qâjâr, signed and dated 1855 Binding plate in painted, gilded and lacquered papier-mâché depicting an audience scene in a pavilion open to the exterior, between the Safavid shâh and his Mughal guest kneeling in the center on a carpet, in the presence of several standing or kneeling dignitaries, with two dancers bustling in the foreground. The scene is surrounded by cartouches calligraphed with thuluth verses. Between the cartouches, circular medallions adorned with inscriptions giving the date Friday 10 Rabi' I 1272 H / November 20, 1855 and citing the workshop of Aghâ Mirzâ Nâser In a wooden frame covered with silk weaving. Sight size: 35.5 x 53 cm; overall size: 49.8 x 68.3 cm Substantial damage, crazing, small chips and blocking. A qalamdan pencil box with gol-o-bolbol decoration, Iran, 20th century; length. 26 cm, minor accidents. This scene of an audience granted by the second Shah of the Safavid dynasty (r. 1524-76) to the second emperor of the Mughal dynasty (r. 1555-56) is inspired by one of the frescoes adorning the walls of the banqueting hall of the Chehel Sotoun pavilion in the royal palace of Isfahan, built in the 17th century. The meeting is historic: it took place in July 1544, and sealed the protection given by Shâh Tahmasp to his contemporary following the loss of his kingdom. The scene inspired many artists, both Indian and Persian. A famous Mughal example is the folio of the Akbarnâmeh illustrated by Sanvala in 1602-03 and preserved in the British Library in London (Or. 12988, f. 98r). Another Qajar example, also produced on papier-mâché, is the binding plate in the Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg (Acc. no. VR-200). A Qajar Papier-mâché Panel depicting the Audience between Shah Tahmasp and Humayun, Iran, Signed and Dated