Indian Works of Art

Asian Art in London celebrates its twenty-fifth edition with the annual festival, first held in autumn 1998, running from late October to early November.

The awards shortlist for Asian Art in London’s Indian & Islamic section has been announced. The Antiques Trade Gazette Award for An Outstanding Indian & Islamic Work of Art from an Auction House and the Apollo Award for An Outstanding Indian & Islamic Work of Art from a Dealer each have three finalists. Winners will be announced on October 20

The third sale from the eclectic collection of Jim Dixon was held online by Bonhams Skinner (25/20/12% buyer’s premium).

The latest themed sale at Bonhams (27.5/25/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) was an auction titled India in Art, offering a mix of pictures and objects relating to the subcontinent.

A US collector went way over the odds to secure a 15th century southern Indian bronze that took top honours at the Asian art sale at Lempertz (26% buyer’s premium) in Cologne.

Numerous pieces in the Asian art sale at Lempertz in Cologne on June 11 come from the collection of the German doctor Ludwig Jansen.

French capital follows the examples of New York and London for a dedicated week of events

On June 14 in Paris Bonhams will hold the first of four sales from the collection of Claude de Marteau which will be on view during the Printemps Asiatique Paris event.

The spring and autumn traditionally turn the London spotlight on Islamic and Indian works of art. This year there are specialist sales at five auction houses in March and April: Sotheby’s, Christie’s, Bonhams, Chiswick Auctions and Roseberys. Pictured here are some highlights together with associated works of art from mixed-discipline sales.

Two signed watercolours by the Indian artist Maqbool Fida Husain (1913-2011) will be on sale at Bruneau & Co of Cranston, Rhode Island, on February 21.

One of the highlights of the April 2007 London Islamic sale series had been this 2ft 4in (74cm) high white marble bust of Maharajah Duleep Singh by neoclassical sculptor John Gibson.

Bezoars (from the Persian pād-zahr meaning ‘poison antidote’) are the calcified concretion found in the stomachs of some animals. Prized for their supposed medicinal properties, until the Enlightenment science at the beginning of the 18th century they could sell for more than their weight in gold.

On November 25 Ader will hold a sale of Indian and Islamic Art and Antiquities that is billed as a homage to Marie-Christine David, a specialist in this field who worked with the firm for 10 years.

This 19th century painting illustrates a scene from the Devi Mahatmya, a famous Sanskrit text centred on the figure of the Hindu mother goddess Devi.

Asian antique jewellery specialist Sue Ollemans offers this Indian pair of early 19th century earrings made in Lucknow.

The Islamic and Indian Art sale at Chiswick Auctions on October 29 includes this gilt and painted shield made in north-western India (possibly Rajasthan) in the first half of the 18th century.