Islamic art treasures to go on sale

Sotheby’s first-ever Arts of the Islamic World auction in the Middle East, which takes place on March 19 in Doha, will feature a number of exceptional and rare works spanning nearly 1,000 years from cultures as diverse as those from North Africa, the Middle East and Iran.
Among the highlights of the sale are the Pearl Carpet of Baroda, a masterpiece of pearls and jewels from 19th-century India and a rare Safavid voided silk velvet panel from 17th-century Iran.
Discussing the sale, Edward Gibbs, head of Sotheby’s Middle East department, said: “Sotheby’s has worked closely with collectors and museums from the region for many years so we are delighted to be able to offer so many superb objects in our inaugural sale in Doha.”
A remarkable discovery is a 17th-century silk velvet figural panel from Safavid Iran which recently resurfaced in a European private collection where it had been since the early 20th century.
The outstandingly high quality of craftsmanship, combined with the rarity and beauty, as well as the miraculous state of preservation, makes this textile one of the most sophisticated weavings ever produced by the workshops of the Safavid court.
The panel uses voided silk velvet enriched with metal thread and bouclé and shows two female falconers equipped with general fittings for the hunt – one has a lure tied round her waist and the other has a small Saluki or hunting dog straining on a leash.
Comparable pieces can be found in major museum collections, most notably the Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar.
The medieval Islamic period is represented by an exceptional carved glass bowl dating to the 10th century. Decorated in the so-called “beveled” technique, this fragile bowl is deeply carved so the designs stand out in dramatic relief. Only a handful of such pieces survive from antiquity and this example is among the finest in existence.
The five other known comparable examples are all in major international museum collections: the National Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, the Kuwait National Museum, the Corning Museum of Glass in New York, and the British Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
Another highlight is a gold and silver inlaid bowl from the Mamluk period.  A further highlight of the sale is a rare curtain from North Africa dating to the 18th century, estimated at $250,000-300,000.


Source: Gulf Times