Rectangular-shaped box in 750 gold and wood, chased with scrolls and arabesques and decorated with a medallion in the centre representing the personalised tughra of Ardeshir Zahedi in white gold set with brilliant-cut diamonds, the interior in varnished flamed mahogany veneer, 20x12.6x2.3 cm, 1322gMaster's hallmark of the Iranian jeweller Nasseri.Collection of His Excellency Ardeshir ZahediThe chasing is typical of the Persian style with foliage, scrolling arabesques, friezes and medallions, a decoration that comes from the magnificent mosques of the Shah and Sheikh Lotfallah in Isfahan, Iran. H.E. Ardeshir Zahedi had his own tughra in divanî, a style of cursive Arabic calligraphy descended from an Ottoman tradition and reserved for sultans as a signature or seal. Here, the tughra has been recreated in white gold and set with brilliant-cut diamonds. This box was used as a cigar box, a small pleasure that His Excellency loved. Traditionally, a cigar box is lined with Spanish cedar, but this is neither a prestigious nor an attractive wood. The use of a varnished mahogany burl provides a fine finish for an avid cigar smoker, who may find it more enjoyable to offer cigars to his guests by displaying them in this way.