Islamic Works of Art

Dr Richard Piran McClary is a senior lecturer in Islamic art and architecture in the history of art department at The University of York.

Sixteenth century single folio manuscript displays orgiastic spree in graphic detail

Chiswick Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) was another of the London salerooms that held a designated sale in Islamic week.

Rowland George Allanson Allanson-Winn, 5th Baron Headley (1855-1935) led an extraordinary life.

This pair of Indian gem-encrusted gold and champlevé enamel arm bracelets or bazubands are expected to bring £5000-7000 at Chiswick Auctions’ Islamic Art – Property of a European Collector sale in London on October 28.

More images survive depicting Fath ‘Ali Shah (r.1797-1834) than of any other Qajar monarch, the result of an enormous effort to replicate images of the ruler for display throughout his realm.

This 19th century Ottoman silver thread and black silk curtain is embroidered with the tugra of Sultan Mahmud II (1808-39).

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

An Isnik fritware tile familiar to ATG readers made its second visit to the saleroom last week.

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.

A set of six 17th century portraits depicting Ottoman sultans sparked an extraordinary bidding contest at a Sotheby’s online sale.

This exceptional Ilkhanid gold and silver-inlaid brass candlestick has become the most expensive Islamic metalwork sold at auction.

One of Persian scholar Imam Ghazali’s (1058-1111AD) best-known works, Kimiya-yi Sa’ādat (The Alchemy of Happiness), was compiled late in his lifetime during a period of unrest between Sufi mystics and Islamic scholars – the former accused of overphilosophising Islam and neglecting the importance of ritual practices.

This 9in (23cm) Iznik jug from Ottoman Turkey, c.1580, has an estimate of £40,000-60,000 at Christie’s Art of the Islamic & Indian Worlds sale on October 28.

Among the Middle Eastern works of art in Woolley & Wallis’ Asian Art Part II sale taking place in Salisbury on November 24 are these two 17th century Safavid Gombroon ware bowls.

Among the highlights of last week’s Islamic and Indian art sales in London was this late Safavid portrait of a mercenary in the Persian army painted in the cosmopolitan city of Isfahan c.1680-90.