The perceived importance of bezoar stones (and the similar Goa stones) meant that they were often mounted themselves with gold and silver or encased in spherical filigree boxes.
The example here from early 18th century India came up at Roseberys’ (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) sale of Islamic, Indian Art & Antiquities on October 26. It was formerly in the private collection of the Islamic art dealer Oliver Hoare (1945-2018). The estimate of £1000-1500 was certainly modest (examples sold for £5000 or more are not hard to find) but the hammer price was a punchy £14,000 to a buyer on thesaleroom.com.
Seljuq bronze incense burner – £17,000 at Roseberys.
The sale was topped by a large Seljuq bronze incense burner modelled in the form of a bird. Made in what is now Iran in the 12th century, it forms part of the wide lexicon of expressive zoomorphic shapes used in medieval Islamic metalware.
At 13in (33cm) high, it was larger than another of the same form that is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. In a private European collection since the early 1970s, it came for sale with an estimate of £20,000-30,000 and did get away at £17,000.
