Persian family of painters. Working in Isfahan in the later 19th century, they specialized in varnished and painted (‘lacquered’) objects (see ISLAMIC ART, §VIII, 10). Signed works provide the names of some 15 members of the family. Their work is generally confined to the traditional themes of birds and flowers. Their style is less original than that of their contemporaries, the ISFAHANI family, but equally fine in technique. A casket made by Nasrallah Imami in 1865–6 (Tehran, Nigaristan Mus., 75.6.17) includes his typical motif of the hazelnut. A similar floral subject is depicted on the magnificent mirror-case (London, V&A, 922-1869) painted by Riza Imami in 1866 for the Paris Exposition of 1867. Muhammad al-Husayni al-Imami worked in the traditional style in the 1870s and attained the rank of Painter Laureate (Pers. naqqash-bashi). Javad al-Imami, who is also known by the name `Abd al-Raji, painted a fine spectacle case (1867; Tehran, Mus. Dec. A., 7624) and a penbox (1893; Berne, Hist. Mus., 24-1912), both decorated with flowers and birds.