Round steel dish damascene, Iran qâjâr, 19th centurySteel dish on a small annular foot, with engraved and gold damascene decoration of a central medallion inscribing a flowered cross, surrounded by a floral garland forming eight semicircles resting on the border and housing a half sun. On the border, epigraphic cartouches in Persian nasta'liq alternating with medallions decorated with birds. Diameter : 25 cm Rust marks , gilding jumps . Best known on zoomorphic sculptures, gold damascened steel also seems to have been widespread in the 19th century on everyday objects such as pieces of crockery like this one. This form of dish as well as its decoration evokes the Chinese porcelains of the late eighteenth century which could be decorated with garlands. Bibliography: FELLINGER, Gwenaëlle, L'Empire des Roses, chefs-d'œuvre de l'art persan du XIXe siècle, Musée du Louvre Lens, Lens, Editions Snoeck, Gand : 2018, p. 377. A Qajar gold-damascened steel plate, Iran, 19th century