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

and wired on the back for horizontal hanging

the perfect scale to wear around one's neck

church and what I believe is town hall

) Frame is in very good shape

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