Analytical Study of the Qajar Qalamdans of the Hermitage Museum

Qalam and Qalamdan, which are essential tools for dissemination of knowledge, emerged along with development of civilization. As an ancient art, Qalamdan making has a significant role in Iranian culture. Qalamdan making in Iran was flourished during the Safavid and Qajar periods. During this period, Iranian Qalamdan painting was also influenced by the European style. Currently, exquisite Iranian Qalamdans are scattered in great museums of the world. The present study tends to answer the following questions: 1) What is the variety and shape of the Qajar Qalamdans in the Hermitage Museum? 2) What motifs and decorations are used to decorate the selected Qalamdans of the Qajar period?. The present study discusses the background of Qalamdan making and lacquer painting in Iran and Qalamdan painting themes in the Qajar period. Finally, conclusions are drawn from the findings by examining and analyzing the motifs and decorations of 35 Qajar Qalamdans kept in the Hermitage Museum. This study is descriptive-analytical in terms of nature and method, and a documentary method is used to collect data.The Qalamdans of the Hermitage Museum are classified in two general categories in terms of shape: 1) sliding; 2) lidded. The number of sliding Qalamdans is more than the lidded Qalamdans. All the sliding Qalamdans have round heads, which have two different cutting methods 1) dragon fire; 2) oval. Dragon fire cutting method is more common than oval. The lidded Qalamdans also have a transverse cut. The theme of decorations of Qalamdans is diverse; among them landscape, bird-and-flowers, and angelica are the most frequent, which can be seen in the form of one subject or a combination of several subjects on one Qalamdan.