Antique Persian Qajar Pottery Vases With Floral Motifs. Late 19th/Early 20th Century. 

Largest Size: 4 x 4 x 8 3/8 in. 

#7704 . 

The Qajar Dynasty (1789-1925) was an Iranian royal dynasty founded by Mohammad Khan (r. 1789-1797) of the Qoyunlu clan of the Turkoman Qajar tribe. The dynasty’s effective rule in Iran ended in 1925 when Iran’s Majlis, convening as a constituent assembly on December 12th,  1925, declared Reza Shah, a former brigadier-general of the Persian Cossack Brigade, as the new shah of the Imperial State of Persia. The boom in artistic expression that occurred during the Qajar era was a side effect of the period of relative peace that accompanied the rule of Agha Muhammad Khan and his descendants. With his ascension, the bloody turmoil that had dominated the 18th Century in Persia came to a close and made it possible for peacetime arts to again flourish. The style of painting that arose during the preceding Safavid Empire evolved into a distinctive form of portraiture that was highly popular with nobles and the merchant class alike. During this time there was a great deal of European influence on Persian culture, especially in the arts of royalty. Realism and the preeminent position and prestige of oil painting were two particular fields affected. Female creativity also bloomed, both in their depiction and those who were allowed to create art. Calligraphy, innovations in literature, and textile arts also underwent significant changes thanks to European court influences. Two of the most important developments were a distinct shift in architecture and landscaping, as well as the development of a popular and inventive embracing of photography, which in turn influenced the style of painting further. The Qajar Imperial Family in exile is currently headed by the eldest descendant of Mohammad Ali Shah, Sultan Mohammad Ali Mirza Qajar, while the Heir Presumptive to the Qajar throne is Mohammad Hassan Mirza II, the grandson of Mohammad Hassan Mirza, Sultan Ahmad Shah’s brother and heir. Mohammad Hassan Mirza died in England in 1943, having proclaimed himself shah in exile in 1930 after the death of his brother in France. Today, the descendants of the Qajars often identify themselves as such and hold reunions to stay socially acquainted through the Kadjar (Qajar) Family Association, often coinciding with the annual conferences and meetings of the International Qajar Studies Association (IQSA). The offices and archives of IQSA are housed at the International Museum for Family History in Eijsden.