Indian Works of Art

The biannual series of Islamic and Indian art auctions held in April and October offers a wide range of art and artefacts celebrating the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the Middle East and the subcontinent. This year’s ‘Islamic Week’, running from October 22-26, includes sales from five auction houses, highlights of which are pictured below.

A 12th-century Chola bronze, stolen from a museum in India nearly 60 years ago, has been returned to the country after it was discovered at a London antiques fair earlier this year.

Sotheby’s is to return to holding auctions in India to take advantage of the growing wealth in the Asian nation.

A selection of Indian Company School paintings is among the lots on offer at Bristol Auction Rooms next month.

The mysterious history of the Koh-i Noor diamond will be revealed during the Hay Festival by authors of a new book.

Kensington Church Street dealer Butchoff Antiques hosted an exhibition of Indian artworks to celebrate the UK India Year of Culture, which was launched by The British Council and the Indian High Commission earlier this year.

A late 18th century Rajput miniature with an excellent provenance is to be offered at auction next week at Mallams in Cheltenham.

West London auction firm Matthew Barton has set a house record with the sale of a Nepalese bronze after it was hammered down at £85,000.

A small Indian bronze brought to Special Auction Services (SAS) in a woman’s handbag set a new house record when it was knocked down for £114,000 yesterday.

A large Indian gouache on paper miniature was the unexpected highlight of a specialist Islamic & Indian Arts sale at Roseberys in London last week.

The highlight of Bonhams’ latest sale of Islamic and Indian art in London was this rare Gujarati mother-of-pearl artwork of early date and exceptional size.