A FINE PERSIAN KULAH KHUD PRESENTED BY MAS'UD MIRZA ZILL AL-SULTAN, GOVERNOR OF FARS AND ISFAHAN

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VARIOUS PROPERTIES

A FINE PERSIAN KULAH KHUD PRESENTED BY MAS'UD MIRZA ZILL AL-SULTAN, GOVERNOR OF FARS AND ISFAHAN

CIRCA 1870-80

Details

A FINE PERSIAN KULAH KHUD PRESENTED BY MAS'UD MIRZA ZILL AL-SULTAN, GOVERNOR OF FARS AND ISFAHAN
Circa 1870-80
With domed skull decorated with a series of four large cartouches carried within a broad band of interlaced scrollwork, all damascened in gold and the cartouches each filled with a line from a presentation inscription, chiselled with small damascened cartouches of animals and birds around the base, fitted with spike, plume-holders and sliding nasal-bar all decorated en suite, and with aventail of small butted rings (incomplete)
9¾in (24.8cm)

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 15% on the buyer's premium

Lot Essay

The inscription reads:
'In khud-e murassa' be-sar-e mard-e delavar
khostar bivad az taj...afsar-e qaysar
fulad bovad murassa' gashteh be-zar-o sim
hasb al-amr-e hazrat-e vala zill al-sultan.'

In translation:
'This inlaid helmet upon the head of the brave man
is more beautiful than the .... crown and the diadem of Caesar.
The steel is inlaid with gold and silver
by the order of His Excellency, the exalted Zill al-Sultan.'

Mas'ud Mirza Zill al-Sultan (1849-1918) was the eldest surviving son of Nasir al-Din Shah. He was titled 'Zill al-Sultan' upon his first appointment as govenor of Fars in 1869/70. Zill al-Sultan ruled over half of Iran for thirty-four years from 1874, becoming one of the most hated figures in the country.

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