A DIAMOND-SET ENAMELLED MINIATURE POCKET WATCH
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND FOR THE IRANIAN MARKET, CIRCA 1895
A DIAMOND-SET ENAMELLED MINIATURE POCKET WATCH
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND FOR THE IRANIAN MARKET, CIRCA 1895
The case set with an enamelled portrait of Kamran Mirza Nayeb es-Saltaneh, the reverse with the words 'Malekeh Jahan' in diamond-set nastaliq against blue enamel, within a ring of diamonds, a button in the crown to release the catch, the watch face with the hours marked in Roman numerals with the seconds marked to the outer rim in western Arabic numerals, case number 366, movement number 34633, movement with balance wheel escapement, case stamped with makers mark of Société Général des Monteurs de boîtes en or' (active 1882-1933)
1in. (2.4cm.) diam.
A DIAMOND-SET ENAMELLED MINIATURE POCKET WATCH
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND FOR THE IRANIAN MARKET, CIRCA 1895
The case set with an enamelled portrait of Kamran Mirza Nayeb es-Saltaneh, the reverse with the words 'Malekeh Jahan' in diamond-set nastaliq against blue enamel, within a ring of diamonds, a button in the crown to release the catch, the watch face with the hours marked in Roman numerals with the seconds marked to the outer rim in western Arabic numerals, case number 366, movement number 34633, movement with balance wheel escapement, case stamped with makers mark of Société Général des Monteurs de boîtes en or' (active 1882-1933)
1in. (2.4cm.) diam.
Collection of Prince Sultan 'Ali Mirza Qajar, grandson of Sultan Muhammad 'Ali Shah and Malekeh Jahan
Sold Kapandji Morhange, Paris, 19 April 2012, lot 251
Collection of Prince Sultan 'Ali Mirza Qajar, grandson of Sultan Muhammad 'Ali Shah and Malekeh Jahan
Sold Kapandji Morhange, Paris, 19 April 2012, lot 251
Please note that the enamelled portrait depicts Kamran Mirza Nayeb Sultan and not Muhammad 'Ali Shah as stated in the printed catalogue.
Please note that the enamelled portrait depicts Kamran Mirza Nayeb Sultan and not Muhammad 'Ali Shah as stated in the printed catalogue.Kamran Mirza Nayeb es-Saltaneh (1856-1929) was the third son of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar and served as Minister of War from 1880-96 and again from 1906-07. His daughter was Malekeh Jahan, the queen consort of Muhammad 'Ali Shah, the sixth Qajar shah. Muhammad 'Ali reigned between 8 January 1907 and 16 July 1909 during the turbulent period of the Enghelab-e Mashruteh , the Persian Constitutional Revolution. His father, Mozzafar al-Din Shah Qajar (1896-1907), ratified the constitution in 1906 which was opposed by Muhammad 'Ali Shah upon coming to power. In 1908 the Shah attempted to remove parliament by force resulting in a year long period of unrest resulting in Muhammad 'Ali Shah's abdication following the capture of Tabriz by pro-constitutional forces. Muhammad 'Ali Shah and Malekeh Jahan would live in exile in Odessa until 1920 before moving to Istanbul and finally Sanremo in Italy until his death in 1925. The reverse of our watch bears the name of Malekeh Shah and the small size of the watch indicates that it was made for a woman, very possibly for Malekeh Shah herself.
This watch comes from the collection of Kamran Mirza's great-grandson and Head of the Qajar Imperial Family Prince Sultan 'Ali Mirza Qajar. Sultan 'Ali Mirza was born in Beirut before moving to Paris where he served as a barrister. Due to the brief reign of Muhammad 'Ali Shah, objects commissioned during this period are very rare and those with a royal provenance are even scarcer. A Swiss pocket watch intended for the Persian market with a portrait of Muzaffar al-Din Shah Qajar was sold in these Rooms 27 October 2022, lot 63.
