sotheby’s presents its sale of arts of the islamic world on 25th april 2012

8/2/2019 Sothebys Presents Its Sale Of Arts Of The Islamic World On 25Th April 2012

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For Immediate ReleasePress Release London

London | +44 (0)20 7293 6000 | Kelly Signorelli-Chaplin | [email protected] |Matthew Weigman | [email protected]

A rare and important Ottoman sabre andscabbard with silver-gilt mounts set with

turquoise and gold-inlaid jade panels, Turkey,first half of the 17

thcentury,

est. 350,000 600,000.*

A gem-set gold double-headed eaglependant, Morocco, 18

thCentury, est.

20,000 30,000.*

SOTHEBYS PRESENTS ITS SALE OF

ARTS OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD ON 25TH APRIL 2012

FEATURING MAGNIFICENT AND UNIQUE WORKS OF ART,

RARE AND IMPORTANT MANUSCRIPTS

AND NOBLE JEWELLERY

SOTHEBYS LONDON will present its sale of Arts of the Islamic World on 25th April, 2012.

The auction, which comprises 290 lots and is expected to realise 7 10 million, will include

distinguished Islamic works of art including magnificent examples of weaponry; rare and

important manuscripts; fine ceramic wares; jewellery and fine tapestries and rugs. The sale

will also feature an exceptional selection of ceramics from Part Two of the Harvey B. Plotnick

Collection.

Benedict Carter, Deputy Director and Specialist for Sothebys Middle East Department, said:

This sale presents an opportunity for collectors and institutions to acquire rare and exquisite


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Islamic works of art, many of historical significance and distinguished provenance. We are

also delighted to offer Part Two of the highly esteemed Harvey B. Plotnick Collection, which

had been assembled over the past two decades with an eye towards excellence and rarity.

Magnificent Islamic Weaponry

A magnificent dagger (jambiya) with Ottoman gold-

inlaid jade hilt and Safavid watered-steel blade

signed by Faizallah Shushtari, from Isfahan,

Persia, first quarter of the 17th century, is estimated

at 400,000 600,000. Its discovery is an exciting

addition to the group of recorded works by the master

craftsman Faizallah Shushtari, who was amongst the

greatest steel-makers of the Safavid age. His

employment by Shah Sultan Husayn suggests that this

piece was most probably a royal commission, asevidenced in the superb watered steel blade and the imperial-quality Ottoman jade hilt.

A rare and important Ottoman sabre and scabbard with silver-gilt mounts set with

turquoise and gold-inlaid jade panels from Turkey, first half of the 17th century, is

estimated at 350,000 600,000. This impressive Ottoman sabre would have been made

and used for ceremonial purposes or as a diplomatic gift, displaying the magnificence and

wealth of the Ottoman Empire. Its appearance on the market is a once-in-a-generation

opportunity to acquire a work of great rarity and museum-quality importance.


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Rare and Historic Islamic Manuscripts

An illustrated and illuminated leaf from the Shah

Ismail II Shahnameh: The Party After Homage Paid

to Kay Khosraw by Nobles Following His

Enthronment, ascribed to the artist Burji and

originating from Qazvin, Persia, circa 1577, carries an

estimate of 60,000 80,000. This imperial manuscript

epitomises the grandeur and accomplishment of the

Qazvini school at its zenith and is particularly significant

within the history of Persian painting. Shah Ismail II

probably commissioned this Shahnamehat the beginning

of his rule in 1576, assembling an atelier of young artists

in the capital city of Qazvin. The manuscript was

exhibited at the Muse des Arts Dcoratifs in Paris and at

a later date more than half the pages were purchased byEdmond de Rothschild. Other leaves from the same

manuscript are in the Collection of Prince and Princess

Sadruddin Aga Khan; the Reza Abbasi Museum in

Tehran; and the Art and History Collections Trust in England. The illuminated frontispiece to

this manuscript, undiscovered until now, is also being offered in this sale.

Important Islamic Metalworks and Ceramics

An Artuqid silver-inlaid brass basin made for

Sultan Qara Arslan Ibn Il Ghazi, from Mardin,

Anatolia, second half of the 13th century, is

estimated at 300,000 500,000. The rediscovery

of this basin inscribed with the full title of Sultan

Abi'l-Harith Qara Arslan ibn Il Ghazi, Artuqid ruler

of Mardin, is one of the most important additions to

the corpus of western Islamic metalwork since the

end of the Second World War, and the only one of its kind still in private hands. The

inscriptions have only once been published in full, and have not been seen fully in public until

now, making this sultans Coronation Basin of major

significance for scholars and collectors.

An important Hispano-Moresque plate from Manises,

Valencia, 1430-1470, is estimated at 150,000 180,000. The

impressive size, intact condition and outstanding provenance

mark this out as a superlative example of lustre production in

Muslim Spain. This particular dish is unusual in that it does not

bear a central heraldic shield or other armoury, suggesting that it


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was made either for a non-Christian, most probably Muslim, patron or that it was made for

export.

A large Nishapur plate depicting two seated figures from

Eastern Persia, 10th century, comes from the esteemed Harvey

B. Plotnick Collection and is estimated at 80,000 120,000. This

exceptional example of a buffware plate, probably from Nishapur,

is of considerable iconographic interest. Inscriptions inside the

plate read, in Persian, Nush kon! (Drink!); and around the inner

rim, a repetition of two letters possibly reading Laka (For you).

The couple shown appear to be male and female, suggesting a

marriage or betrothal scene.

A Noble Collection of Moroccan Jewellery

The sale features a rare group of 18th-19th century Moroccan gold

jewellery which provides a fascinating insight into a blending of

cultures at a time when collaboration between Jews and Muslims in

Morocco was at its zenith. The pieces in the collection reflect the

skilled work of Jewish goldsmiths, who adapted stylistic elements

from a number of Berber and Arab designs.

This collection belonged to the Tazi family, one of the leadingfamilies of Tangier. Many pieces were royal gifts, set with

diamonds, emeralds, rubies and pearls, highly cherished for their

beauty as well as symbolic value. The items are distinguished by

their execution entirely in gold, unlike the more common silver

jewellery of Morocco.

A gem-set gold double-headed eagle pendant from Morocco, 18th century, is estimated

at 20,000 30,000. It is sumptuously set with emeralds, pearls and red gemstones, the

necklace composed of pearls and gold filigree beads. This lot is closely comparable to a

similar piece in the Benaki Museum in Athens, which is said to have once belonged in the

collection of Prince Yasensky who was given the piece by Tsarina Alexandra, wife of Tsar

Nicholas II of Russia.

*Estimates do not include the Buyers Premium.

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sotheby’s presents its sale of arts of the islamic world on 25th april 2012

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