islamic and imperial indian art unveiled at sotheby's london

7/27/2019 Islamic And Imperial Indian Art Unveiled At Sotheby's London

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Four Young Scholars in Discussion,

signed by Muhammad Murad Samarqandi, Persia, Safavid, Bukhara

early 17th century (est.400,000-600,000)

On 9 October 2013, Sothebys London will offer exquisite objects exemplifying the broad artistic

traditions of the Muslim world in two dedicated auctions, 'Arts of the Islamic World' and 'Art of

Imperial India'. A total of 281 exceptional objects including works relating to Tipu Sultan, property

from the collection of Xavier Guerrand-Herms, and rare paintings, ceramics, metalwork, and

weapons, will be presented for sale - providing fascinating insights into Muslim history and culture,

encompassing almost 1,400 years of every kind of decorative art produced in lands under Islamicpatronage from Spain to India.

For Immediate ReleasePress Release

London | +44 (0)20 7293 6000 |Sarah Rustin |[email protected]

Rosamund Chester|[email protected]

Exquisite and Precious ObjectsExemplifying 1,400 years

of the Artistic Traditions of the Muslim World

To be auctioned at Sothebys London, 9 October 2013
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:%[email protected]:%[email protected]:%[email protected]:%[email protected]:[email protected]


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Benedict Carter, Director, Head of Auction Sales Middle East, said:

This seasons auctions will include works of museum quality, rarity and beauty spanning nearly

1,400 years, some of which are among only a handful left in existence. With this diversity we have

already attracted a great deal of international interest. Sothebys will also be introducing its first-

ever sale of Art of Imperial India this autumn , following the success of previous sales of Indian Art

including the record sales of Stuart Cary Welchs collection in April and May 2011

Arts of the Islamic World

Auction Highlights9 OCTOBER 2013, 10AM

Four Young Scholars in Discussion, signed by Muhammad Murad Samarqandi, Persia, Safavid,

Bukhara, early 17th century (est.400,000-600,000)

This illustrated leaf (pictured on the previous page) represents one of only a handful of works

attributable to the remarkable and enigmatic artist, Muhammad Murad Samarqandi. While otherexamples of his work are held in the collections of the Louvre, Paris, and the Freer Gallery of Art in

Washington, this is the only recorded album page by Samarqandi in which the

artist is responsible for both the border and the main image. It is arguably the

most impressive and complete example of his known works.

A Portrait of Rustam Khan Zand, signed by Muhammad Sadiq, Persia, Zand,

Shiraz, circa 1779 (est. 300,000-500,000)

This unusual and rare portrait of Rustam Khan Zand, of the Zand dynasty, is

an exemplary portrayal of the classic Persian ideal of youthful masculine

beauty. The painting effectively displays the artist Muhammad Sadiqs

revolutionary style, to which his students strictly adhered, and which

influenced the extensive canon of royal Qajar portraiture. Rustam Khan Zand

was the grandson of Karim Khan Zands half-brother Zaki, who ruled Iran for a

year in 1779.

The Fall of Constantinople, Italy, probably Venice, late

15/early 16th Century (est. 180,000-220,000)

This is an extremely rare and important late fifteenth or

early sixteenth century Italian oil painting of the ancient city

of Constantinople. It is probably the earliest known

depiction of the pivotal moment in the history of the

Ottoman Empire and Christian Europe when the city was

captured by the Ottoman army of the 21 year old SultanMehmet the Conqueror. The composition also includes all

the major monuments of the Byzantine city, most

importantly the Hagia Sophia Church and the Hippodrome in the centre, with

the Aqueduct of Valens in the background.

Leading the works of art featured in the sale is an important early 13th

century

brass silver-inlaid Mosul jug (pictured right) decorated with the astrological

signs of the zodiac and estimated at 300,000-400,000. Further highlights

include a fine Persian seventeenth century Safavid watered-steel dagger

inscribed with the name of Shah Suleyman Safavi (Suleyman III), (r.1666-94)

(est. 60,000-80,000).


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The sale will also open with 42 lots from the esteemed Collection of

Xavier Guerrand-Herms. The works, including rare ceramics, metal

ware and miniatures will be sold to benefit the Guerrand-Herms

Foundation for Peace. Established in 1996 with an aim to effect change

in the world, the foundation conducts research in order to change

perceptions, promotes inter-religious dialogue for peace and seeksinnovative solutions to problems of poverty and injustice. A further 132

lots from the collection will be offered at Sothebys Paris on 18

November 2013.

Art of Imperial IndiaAuction Highlights

9 OCTOBER 2013, 2PM

Eleven lots relating to Tipu Sultan, Tiger of Mysore

The Arts of Imperial India auction will comprise 11 works relating to TipuSultan (17501799), including weaponry, prints, watercolours and portraits.

Highlights include a Tipu Sultan sword fitted with a captured English blade,

taken as booty during the storming of the fortress of Seringapatam by the

British in May 1799. Decorated with Tipus personal emblem, the bubri, or

tiger-stripe motif, it is estimated at est. 80,000-120,000 (pictured left). A

further highlight is an 11-bore silver-mounted flintlock duck gun from the

personal armoury of Tipu Sultan, signed Sayyid Masum, Patam, dated

Mawludi year 1218 (1789-90), est. 80,000-100,000.

A rare blue and white Iznik dish,

Turkey,circa 1535-40,

est. 60,000-80,000

A Kashan blue and white footed

bowl, Persia, 13th

century,

est. 30,000-50,000

An illustrated and illuminated leaf from The

Siyar-I-Nabi of Mustafa Dharir, copied by

Mustafa Bin Vali, Turkey, 1594-95,

est. 50,000-70,000


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Jewelled treasures from the courts of India

An exceptional diamond-set and enamelled gold tray and casket (pandan), North India, 18th

Century, (est. 200,000 300,000)

This extremely rare enamelled and bejewelled gold

pandan box, set on a tray with eight smaller boxes,

displays the wealth and taste at the Mughal court for the

most lavish objects. These were used not only for personal

ornamentation, but served an important diplomatic

purpose, to impress and reinforce the power of their

Empire. Covered with bright green enamel and set

throughout with diamonds in the kundan technique, the

creator of the present box and tray has conceived a

masterful combination of the highest order. The diamonds

are carefully faceted to bring out the maximum brilliance

of each stone. Whereas jewelled examples of this quality

exist, it is incredibly rare to find this shape.

A gem-set gold dagger and scabbard, Mughal, circa 1700,

(est. 80,000-120,000)

Swords and daggers formed an important part of the Royal Mughal

treasuries; they were considered as precious as the finest jewels, and the

craftsmen who fashioned them were regarded with the same esteem as

the greatest artists. This dagger, overlaid with gold and set with rubies,

emeralds and turquoise, embodies the prestige accorded to such

weapons and the message of power that they conveyed as presentation

pieces.

A gold and enamelled

diamond-set sarpech

Benares, circa 1850,

35,000-45,000

A jewelled brooch formerly in the

collection of the Duchess of Windsor

An enamelled gold turban ornament in

the form of a parrot (turra), North India,

19th

Century, est. 8,000-12,000


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Miniatures

The Adoration of Rama and Sita, Pahari, Kangra or Mandi, circa

1830-40, est. 100,000-150,000

One of the most remarkable of late Pahari paintings, thismonumental work depicts Rama and Sita enthroned, adored by

gods, semi-divine beings, ascetics and mortals. A very elaborate

composition, executed with great skill and extremely fine detail, it

was probably executed as a private commission by a patron, perhaps

to mark the occasion of the coronation of a prince.

The Rich Man and Lazarus: a Mughal drawing after an engraving by

Jan Sadeler of Jacopo Bassans paintingIndian, early 17th

century,

est. 10,000-15,000The copying of European prints by Mughal artists was a popular

trend in the late sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and it was

actively patronised by Mughal emperors and other patrons. This

particular drawing, after an engraving by Jan Sadeler of Jacopo

Bassanos painting, depicts the story of the rich man (called Dives)

and Lazarus from the Gospel of St. Luke, chapter 16, verses 19-31. It

was no doubt among the numerous prints of Biblical subjects taken

to India by Jesuit missionaries and other European travellers,

diplomats and merchants in the late sixteenth and early

seventeenth century.

A portrait of a nobleman with a dog, attributable to a follower of

Farrukh Beg, possibly Muhammad Ali, Mughal, early 17th century,

60,000-80,000

This is an important and rare painting close in style to the work of

the well-known Perso-Mughal-Deccani artist Farrukh Beg, and is

possibly by the artist Muhammad Ali, a close follower of Farrukh

Beg who was active at the Mughal court in the early years of the

seventeenth century. The composition of a princely youth standing

or seated in front of blossoming trees was a popular one in Persian

and Mughal painting of this period.


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Estimates do not include buyers premium and prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyers premium.Images are available upon request
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islamic and imperial indian art unveiled at sotheby's london

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