SOTHEBY’S. Londra, 5/6 ottobre 2010
Le vendite di Sotheby’s dedicate all’arte del mondo islamico hanno realizzato un totale di £25,349,000 ($40,264,239), sommando le due aste “Arts of the Islamic World Sale” del 6 ottobre che ha realizzato £18,297,200 (superando di oltre 1 milione di sterline la stima pre sala più alta, il totale più alto mai realizzato in un’asta di questa categoria) e quella del 5 ottobre “Princely Collection: Treasures from the Islamic World” che ha realizzato £7,051,800 (ben al di sopra della stima pre asta di 3,4-4,8 milioni di sterline), la prima Evening Sale tenuta per questa categoria.
Edward Gibbs, Senior Director and Head of the Middle East Department, ha commentato:“These exceptional results reflect the strong demand for rare and high quality works of art with good provenance, and the growing strength of this field on the international art scene. Collectors of Islamic Art are more discerning than ever before and very selective, focusing on the best the current market has to offer.”
– 5 ottobre 2010 – A Princely Collection: Treasures from the Islamic World:
Total: £7,051,800 ($11,146,075)
Pre-sale Estimate: £3.4-4.8 million
Sold by Lot: 96%
Sold by Value: 88%
Top lot della vendita una rara ciotola Abbasid del IX secolo che è stata venduta ad un anonimo al telefono per la somma di 713.250 £, quasi quadruplicando la sua stima più bassa (lotto 60, stima: 200-300.000 £).
LOT 60
A rare and important Abbasid lustre pottery bowl, Iraq or Tunisia, second half 9th Century
Estimate (GBP)200,000 – 300,000
Price (GBP)£713,250 (1,127,363 USD)
Further highlights
An exceptional and large Qur’an Leaf In Gold Kufic Script On Blue Vellum, from the famous “Blue Qur’an” produced in North Africa or the Near East in the 9th-10th century, was acquired by a buyer on the telephone for £529,250, more than double the low estimate for the lot (lot 7, est. £200,000-300,000).
An important illuminated Persian manuscript on paper, Tafsir Al-Qur’an probably made for Shah Tahmasp, copied by Kamal Al-Din Husain at Mecca, dated 955AD/1548-9AD, sold to an anonymous buyer on the telephone for the sum of £601,250, three times more than its low estimate (lot 28, est. £200,000-250,000).
A large and rare Spanish Umayyad pottery storage vessel, late 10th-11th century, brought £325,250 (lot 72, est. £60,000-80,000).
A large and lavish Qur’an attributable to Ruzbihan Muhammad, Persia, Safavid, probably Shiraz, early 16th century, realised £313,250 (lot 26, est. £100,000-120,000).
– 6 ottobre 2010 – Arts of the Islamic World:
Total: £18,362,350 ($29,221,844)
Pre-sale Estimate: £12-17.3 million
Sold by Lot: 55.4%
Sold by Value: 82.4%
Uno dei top lot della vendita è il rarissimo e importante pugnale spagnolo del XV secolo Nasrid Ear-Dagger, stimato 600-800mila £ e aggiudicato per 3,7 milioni di £.
LOT 250
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE AND IMPORTANT NASRID DAGGER
Price (GBP) 3,737,250
Further highlights
The “Karlsruhe” Safavid Niche Rug from Central Persia, which dates from the second half of the 16th century, sold for £1,161,250 ($1,848,013) (est. £1-1.5 million).
A magnificent Safavid Ewer and Basin inscribed with verses from Sa’di and Hafiz, Persia, 16th century, made £1,026,850 ($1,634,129) (est. £200,000-300,000).
24 rare and rediscovered preparatory paintings depicting the renowned Battle of Pollilur in India, sold to an anonymous telephone bidder for the outstanding sum of £769,250 ($1,224,184), very near the top estimate for the lot (est. £650,000-800,000).
An early Qajar period framed oil on canvas Portrait of a Lady by the leading artist of the day Mirza Baba (dated 1215AH/1800-01AD) – probably painted for the royal court of Fath ‘Ali Shah Qajar (R.1797-1834) – commanded £959,650 ($1,527,187) (est. £500,000-800,000).
