RELEASE: CHRISTIE'S LONDON ISLAMIC ART WEEK - APRIL 2015
London – From 21-24 April 2015, Christie’s two London salerooms will host a wealth of treasures from the Islamic and Indian worlds, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship and diversity of works across the category. The week will begin with exceptional offerings from the Oriental Rugs and Carpets sale on 21 April and continues at King Street on 23 April with Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds and the South Kensington Arts & Textiles of the Islamic & Indian Worlds sale on 24 April, each presenting collectors with a unique opportunity to acquire these rare and magnificent works.
Oriental Rugs and Carpets
King Street, Tuesday, 21 April 2015
Christie’s sale of Oriental Rugs and Carpets will feature property from a number of exceptional collections from across the globe. Leading the sale is an important Mongol empire wool flatwoven carpet from the late 13th or first half 14th century, the only surviving carpet from the Mongol Empire and of significant importance in the understanding of Mongol Empire textiles (estimate: £500,000-700,000, illustrated right). Further highlights of the sale include a particularly fine selection of Chinese carpets spanning three centuries, dating from the early 17th century to the early 20th century, two of which are from the Thyssen-Bornemisza collection, as well as a seven-metre-long, late 16th century Cairene carpet from a private European collection (estimate: £60,000-80,000). The auction also features an array of beautiful silk rugs and carpets, including a large silk and metal-thread Koum Kapi carpet (estimate: £80,000-120,000).
Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds
King Street, Thursday, 23 April 2015
Continuing this season’s Islamic Art Week, the King Street sale of Islamic and Indian Art presents an important astrolabe made in Iran in AH 1117/1705-06 AD (estimate: £150,000-250,000), demonstrating the confluence of science and beauty in the Islamic World, along with a striking celestial globe from Lahore, 1660 (estimate: £100,000-150,000, illustrated left). Also featured is a beautifully rendered Ottoman gilt-copper Chamfron, possibly the most sculptural of all pieces of armour, providing both protection for the horse’s head and the opportunity for great decoration (estimate: £120,000-180,000, illustrated centre page one). Furthermore, the sale includes a superb collection of rare Iznik dishes, led by an important ‘Damascus-Style’ Iznik dish which uses manganese glaze in combination with bright turquoise and emerald green to create the most outstanding of finishes (estimate: £70,000-100,000). Surviving examples of this type of Iznik are few and very rarely appear on the market, providing collectors the almost unique opportunity to acquire such an exquisite work of art.
Arts & Textiles of the Islamic & Indian Worlds
South Kensington, Friday, 24 April 2015
The South Kensington sale will conclude Islamic Art Week with a selection of more than 400 works of art. The sale includes a strong selection of Islamic manuscripts and works on paper, led by an Important Collection of Mediaeval Spanish and North African Manuscripts. A London Collection of Indian silver from the Raj is another highlight of the sale, as well as a fine 19th century, enamelled water pipe from Iran (estimate: £3,000-4,000), an Ottoman Kutahya pottery dish from the second half of the 18th century (estimate: £3,000-4,000, illustrated right) and an Ottoman silver pen case (divit) from the period of Mahmud I (estimate: £2,000-3,000). The sale also features 18th and 19th century Indian paintings, Central Asian textiles as well as ‘Orientalist’ works of art.