A late 20^th century Persian (Iranian) silver bakhlava dish and cover (sahan), Isfahan circa 1995 by Seyyed Hassan Jouzdani (b.1928, d.c. 2022)

Post-Pahlavi. Of dished circular form with a chased monabbat-kari rosette and flower head rim, all upon three cast and chased foliate scroll feet, the double domed pull off cover surmounted by a detachable handle formed as coiled wire leading to four bosses of fruiting vine. The dish edge and the lower section of the cover with chased monabbat-kari decoration of various figures on a continuous frieze forming courtly Safavid scenes to the lid and rural scenes to the base with goats and donkeys. Traces of lacquering. Marked to the base rim edge with retailer’s mark جوزدانی standard mark 900 and town mark of Isfahan.

Diameter – 29 cm / 11.4 inches

Height – 16.2 cm / 6.4 inches

Weight – 1350 grams / 43.4 ozt

Born in Isfahan in 1928, Jouzdani began study to work silver at age 14, operating independently since at least the 1970’s. Found on a variety of wares it appears the Jouzdani enterprise also acted as a retailer for other Persian silver including examples of Tabriz type Persepolis wares. A Mahmoud Jouzdani currently operates in Chaharbagh Abbasi Street, Isfahan.

Purchased by the vendor from Jouzdani in 1995.