ISO Identification of Hand Painted Tile Work

Good morning, everyone -

Our non-profit is stumped as to what we have here. This work is entirely hand painted, to the outer frame, and appears to be done on a portion of tile over a hand-painted background on paper. It measures 9.75" x 15.75"

We tried to capture it best we could in the photos below. Any information (origin, date, usage, etc.) is deeply appreciated. You all have helped us out in the past, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. So, what do you all think?


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I think it is a modern decorative piece, more elaborate than most. Very attractive.

 

It is lovely, MRD. It is a Persian painting on a thin slice of camel bone, not a piece of tile. The paper background is also painted. The scene is probably from a traditional story or book.
It is fairly recent.

The frame is inlaid in the amazing Persian 'khatamkari' technique, using tiny rods of various materials, the rods are bound together into bundles which are cut into slices, and those are inlaid in the frame.

 

Thank you so much, Any Jewelry; deeply appreciate the information.

Hope you all have a great rest of your day!

 

I think the frame is done in a paper patterned and printed to resemble khatamkari. I don't think it's the real deal.

 

I have never seen that, mos. If you click on the photos it looks like they are individual pieces, but I could be wrong.
Just to be sure, @M_R_D , could you run your finger over the decorated part of the frame? Do you feel slight bumps, like every colour is an individual piece?

 

From a painting in the same taste that I had:

 

Thanks, that looks more smooth and glossy than usual. It doesn't have the striations on the 'brass' bits that MRD's has.

 

9.75" x 15.75" ...That's one heckuva slice of bone! I never knew camels had bones that size!

 

Maybe M_R_D can get a close up of a corner of the frame akin to the one I posted.

It's my impression that a frame made in true khatamkari would be expensive in its own right, probably more expensive than would be warranted by the painting.

 

Cut, steamed and flattened, then sliced.

 

Ah. Makes sense! thanks!

 

I had some cheap Persian bone paintings in real khatamkari frames, some of the inlaid pieces have even fallen out. The paintings are of lesser quality than the OPs. I took them out and used the frames for family photos.
I also had a cheap khatamkari box with bone panels, also with some tiny pieces of inlay missing.

 

I see it now and then and what I've seen is generally tourist stuff from Iran and yes, usually framed in the genuine article, although the materials used tend to vary quite a bit. Not usually on newer really expensive things from what I've seen, probably sold at Tehran airport so overpriced like most airport shops!

 

I see some of these things done on thin sections of marble but still astounded that a 10"x15" slab could be produced in one piece from a treated section of camel bone.

I haven't seen other things using large pieces of this material in other productions. Amazed that it is possible to make a flat section of bone this size, any other examples out there?

 

Well, let's hope the frame is the real deal.

 

Check out ebay, there are a lot of recent ones there, mostly without frames. They will probably not say it is Persian, but 'painting on camel bone' should get results.

 

I did, thanks - but now I believe the OP's description is for the overall size of the piece (frame incl) as the 10"x15" piece of was a bit on the hard to believe size no matter how good the steamer.

 

I am always lost when it comes to inches. Strictly a metric girl.

 

I would be described as a partial ignoramus in metric, litres OK, Temperature in C, OK - Kilometers OK, cms in descriptions ..have to get calculator, no visualization (yet)