Islamic & Indian Art

2 April 2009 | starting at 14:00 BST

Live Auction

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258 lots available

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- Islamic and Indian Art

Islamic & Indian Art

Auction highlights

Lot gallery

1 — Three vellum Qur'an leaves written in early kufic script with two illuminated sura headings Abbasid, late 8th/9th Century(3)

2 — Two consecutive Qur'an leaves on vellum (sura II, al-Baqara (The Cow), verses 272-end; sura III, al-Imran (The Family of Imran), verses 1-part of 41) probably North Africa, 9th Century(2)

3 — A Qur'an bifolium on vellum (sura XXXIV, Saba (The City of Saba), part of verse 13 to part of 18) probably Andalusia, early 13th Century

4 — Seven large Qur'an leaves written in muhaqqaq script probably Mamluk Egypt, 14th/15th Century(7)

5 — An illustrated leaf from Hafiz-i Abru's Majma al-Tawarikh (The Assembly of History): an enthroned ruler with a courtier Timurid Persia, Herat, circa 1425

6* — Afrasiyab, ruler of Turan, fighting Rustam; Tur defeated by Minuchihr; Kai Khusrau crossing the Oxus with Farangis and Giv: three illustrated leaves from a manuscript of Firdausi's Shahnama (Book of Kings) Provincial Persia, 17th Century(3)

7 — A illustrated leaf from a Persian manuscript of Qazwini's Aja'ib al-Makhluqat with coloured drawings of birds in their natural habitat and a human-headed animal Safavid Persia, Isfahan, mid-17th Century

7A — An illustrated leaf from a dispersed manuscript of Firdausi's Shahnama (The Book of Kings), probably depicting Rustam returning to Iran after killing the Div Akvan, made for Qiwam al-Daulah wa'l-Din Hasan Injuid Persia, Shiraz, circa 1341

8• — An early illuminated Qu'ran Timurid Persia or Ottoman Turkey, second half of 15th Century

9• — A large Qur'an fragment (sura II, al-Baqarah, The Cow, running continuously from part of verse 235 to part of verse 274), written in muhaqqaq script Ilkhanid Persia, first half of the 14th Century

10* — An illuminated Qur'an leaf in bihari script Sultanate India, late 15th/early 16th Century

11• — A Qur'an section (Juz VI: surat al-Nisa, IV, The Women, verses 148-end; surat al-Maida, V, The Table-Spread, verses 1-82), copied by Abdullah bin 'Uthman al-Sini (of Tajik origin) written at Yunau, China, dated AH 1000/AD 1591-92 or later

12• — Ibn al-Majdi, Al-Durr al-Yatim fi sina'at al-Falak wa Taqwim, also known as Zij ibn al-Majdi, treatise on astronomy, copied by Ali bin Yusuf al-Rifa'i al-Tuluni North Africa, dated AH 1064/AD 1653(2)

13• — Subhat Sibyan, poetry Ottoman Turkey, 18th Century

14 — An illuminated Ijezat (certificate) of the scribe Mir Hasan Zia Effendi, signed by his tutors, Mustafa Raqim (Rasam Sika Khaqani), Mir Tayeb Muhammad Nasib and Yusuf Rumi, a pupil of Isma'il al-Zuhdi Ottoman Turkey, dated AH 1227/AD 1812

15• — A Qur'an Ottoman Empire, 19th Century

16 — An illuminated firman with an elaborate 17th Century official seal impression of a shrine Early Qajar Persia, Mashhad, late 18th Century

17• — Al-Hakim Abdul Qadir bin Abdullah al-Fasir (compiler), Kitab Sir al-Asrar fi Ma'rifat Sana'at al-Kimiya' wa al-ahjar, a treatise on alchemy, copied by Abdul Qadir bin Abi al-Qasim bin Abdullah al-Husaini al-Iraqi written at Fez, Morocco, dated AH 1259/AD 1843(2)

18• — Fath-allah bin Shukrallah al-Mu'min al-Shirwani, Kashf al-Litham 'an Majalat al-angham fi ilm al-musiqa, a treatise on music Ottoman Turkey, Topkapu Saray Library, Constantinople, dated AH 1326/AD 1908(2)

19• — A miniature Qur'an written in gold on blue paper, commissioned for the library of Sultan Abdulaziz, son of Sultan Mahmud II (reg. 1876-1904), copied by the scribe Muhammad bin Selim al-Shafii' Ottoman Turkey, Constantinople, circa 1900(2)

20 — A terrace scene with a bearded tutor and three pupils seated on a richly tiled floor, all wearing elaborate turbans and embroidered costumes, lavishly decorated doors left ajar in the background, signed Hajji Muhammad Husain Mussavar al-Malaki Persia, Isfahan, dated 1348/1929-30

21Y — Shah 'Abbas holding court, signed by Mirza Aga Imami Persia, Isfahan, second quarter of the 20th Century(3)

22 — An audience scene on a tiled terrace, an enthroned ruler (possibly Bahram Gur) and his consort watching female dancers surrounded by musicians, attributed to Mehdi al-Imami Persia, Isfahan, first half of the 20th Century

23 — An audience scene within a courtyard, a bearded courtier offering a prince a tray of pomegranates, musicians in the foreground, signed by Mehdi al-Imami Persia, Isfahan, first half of the 20th Century

24 — Two scenes from the story of Shaykh San'an and the Christian maiden, depicting the maiden offering a bowl of wine to the Shaykh, and San'an looking at a bearded man lying on the ground Persia, Isfahan, first half of the 20th Century(2)

25* — Two Arabic calligraphic compositions applied onto natural leaves Turkey, 20th Century(2)

26* — An Arabic calligraphic composition on a natural leaf Turkey, 20th Century

27 — A large calligraphic composition in gold on a natural leaf, signed by Sami Turkey, 20th Century

28 — A calligraphic composition in gold on a natural leaf, signed by Abdul Qadir Turkey, 20th Century

29 — An Arabic calligraphic composition in gold on a natural leaf, signed by Hashemi Turkey, 20th Century

30 — A calligraphic composition in gold on a natural leaf, signed by Shafi' Turkey, dated AH 1321/AD 1903

31 — An illuminated calligraphic panel incorporating the names of the Prophets and verses of the Qur'an probably Northern Caucasus, late 19th Century

32 — An illuminated Hilyeh incorporating the attributes of the Prophet Muhammad North India, late 19th Century

33 — A large illuminated calligraphic panel probably Daghestan or Chechniya, late 19th/20th Century

34• — A large illuminated Qur`an section (surat al-Fatihah, I, complete; surat Ya-Sin, XXXVI, complete) written in monumental muhaqqaq script in gulzar style Persia, 20th Century

35 — A rare stemmed glass Goblet Persia or Syria, 10th - 13th Centuries

36 — An Abbasid moulded glass Bottle with Figures Persia or Mesopotamia, 8th-11th Century

37 — A glass Perfume Bottle Syria, 7th-9th Century

38 — A moulded glass Bowl Persia, 10th/ 11th Century

39Y — Two Umayyad bone Panel Fragments Egypt, 7th/ 8th Century(2)

40 — Two groups of belt or harness Mounts Central Asia, probably 10th Century(2)

41W — A Ghaznavid carved marble Panel North East Persia, 12th/ 13th Century

42 — A carved marble funerary Panel probably Fatimid, Egypt, 11th/ 12th Century

43W — A Fatimid marble Jar-Stand (kilga) Egypt, 12th Century

44 — An Umayyad monochrome pottery Vessel Syria or Mesopotamia, 8th century

45 — A Samanid calligraphic slip-painted pottery Bowl East Persia, 10th Century

46 — An Abbasid calligraphic pottery Bowl Mesopotamia, 9th Century

47 — A Nishapur buffware pottery Bowl Persia, 10th Century

Additional information

Auction information

Lot Symbols

Related Departments

Conditions of Sale

1 —
Three vellum Qur'an leaves written in early kufic script with two illuminated sura headings
Abbasid, late 8th/9th Century
(3)

2 —
Two consecutive Qur'an leaves on vellum (sura II, al-Baqara (The Cow), verses 272-end; sura III, al-Imran (The Family of Imran), verses 1-part of 41)
probably North Africa, 9th Century
(2)

3 —
A Qur'an bifolium on vellum (sura XXXIV, Saba (The City of Saba), part of verse 13 to part of 18)
probably Andalusia, early 13th Century

4 —
Seven large Qur'an leaves written in muhaqqaq script
probably Mamluk Egypt, 14th/15th Century
(7)

5 —
An illustrated leaf from Hafiz-i Abru's Majma al-Tawarikh (The Assembly of History): an enthroned ruler with a courtier
Timurid Persia, Herat, circa 1425

6^* —
Afrasiyab, ruler of Turan, fighting Rustam; Tur defeated by Minuchihr; Kai Khusrau crossing the Oxus with Farangis and Giv: three illustrated leaves from a manuscript of Firdausi's Shahnama (Book of Kings)
Provincial Persia, 17th Century
(3)

7 —
A illustrated leaf from a Persian manuscript of Qazwini's Aja'ib al-Makhluqat with coloured drawings of birds in their natural habitat and a human-headed animal
Safavid Persia, Isfahan, mid-17th Century

7A —
An illustrated leaf from a dispersed manuscript of Firdausi's Shahnama (The Book of Kings), probably depicting Rustam returning to Iran after killing the Div Akvan, made for Qiwam al-Daulah wa'l-Din Hasan
Injuid Persia, Shiraz, circa 1341

8^• —
An early illuminated Qu'ran
Timurid Persia or Ottoman Turkey, second half of 15th Century

9^• —
A large Qur'an fragment (sura II, al-Baqarah, The Cow, running continuously from part of verse 235 to part of verse 274), written in muhaqqaq script
Ilkhanid Persia, first half of the 14th Century

10^* —
An illuminated Qur'an leaf in bihari script
Sultanate India, late 15th/early 16th Century

11^• —
A Qur'an section (Juz VI: surat al-Nisa, IV, The Women, verses 148-end; surat al-Maida, V, The Table-Spread, verses 1-82), copied by Abdullah bin 'Uthman al-Sini (of Tajik origin)
written at Yunau, China, dated AH 1000/AD 1591-92 or later

12^• —
Ibn al-Majdi, Al-Durr al-Yatim fi sina'at al-Falak wa Taqwim, also known as Zij ibn al-Majdi, treatise on astronomy, copied by Ali bin Yusuf al-Rifa'i al-Tuluni
North Africa, dated AH 1064/AD 1653
(2)

13^• —
Subhat Sibyan, poetry
Ottoman Turkey, 18th Century

14 —
An illuminated Ijezat (certificate) of the scribe Mir Hasan Zia Effendi, signed by his tutors, Mustafa Raqim (Rasam Sika Khaqani), Mir Tayeb Muhammad Nasib and Yusuf Rumi, a pupil of Isma'il al-Zuhdi
Ottoman Turkey, dated AH 1227/AD 1812

15^• —
A Qur'an
Ottoman Empire, 19th Century

16 —
An illuminated firman with an elaborate 17th Century official seal impression of a shrine
Early Qajar Persia, Mashhad, late 18th Century

17^• — Al-Hakim Abdul Qadir bin Abdullah al-Fasir (compiler), Kitab Sir al-Asrar fi Ma'rifat Sana'at al-Kimiya' wa al-ahjar, a treatise on alchemy, copied by Abdul Qadir bin Abi al-Qasim bin Abdullah al-Husaini al-Iraqi written at Fez, Morocco, dated AH 1259/AD 1843(2)

18^• —
Fath-allah bin Shukrallah al-Mu'min al-Shirwani, Kashf al-Litham 'an Majalat al-angham fi ilm al-musiqa, a treatise on music
Ottoman Turkey, Topkapu Saray Library, Constantinople, dated AH 1326/AD 1908
(2)

19^• —
A miniature Qur'an written in gold on blue paper, commissioned for the library of Sultan Abdulaziz, son of Sultan Mahmud II (reg. 1876-1904), copied by the scribe Muhammad bin Selim al-Shafii'
Ottoman Turkey, Constantinople, circa 1900
(2)

20 —
A terrace scene with a bearded tutor and three pupils seated on a richly tiled floor, all wearing elaborate turbans and embroidered costumes, lavishly decorated doors left ajar in the background, signed Hajji Muhammad Husain Mussavar al-Malaki
Persia, Isfahan, dated 1348/1929-30

21^Y —
Shah 'Abbas holding court, signed by Mirza Aga Imami
Persia, Isfahan, second quarter of the 20th Century
(3)

22 —
An audience scene on a tiled terrace, an enthroned ruler (possibly Bahram Gur) and his consort watching female dancers surrounded by musicians, attributed to Mehdi al-Imami
Persia, Isfahan, first half of the 20th Century

23 —
An audience scene within a courtyard, a bearded courtier offering a prince a tray of pomegranates, musicians in the foreground, signed by Mehdi al-Imami
Persia, Isfahan, first half of the 20th Century

24 —
Two scenes from the story of Shaykh San'an and the Christian maiden, depicting the maiden offering a bowl of wine to the Shaykh, and San'an looking at a bearded man lying on the ground
Persia, Isfahan, first half of the 20th Century
(2)

25^* —
Two Arabic calligraphic compositions applied onto natural leaves
Turkey, 20th Century
(2)

26^* —
An Arabic calligraphic composition on a natural leaf
Turkey, 20th Century

27 —
A large calligraphic composition in gold on a natural leaf, signed by Sami
Turkey, 20th Century

28 —
A calligraphic composition in gold on a natural leaf, signed by Abdul Qadir
Turkey, 20th Century

29 —
An Arabic calligraphic composition in gold on a natural leaf, signed by Hashemi
Turkey, 20th Century

30 —
A calligraphic composition in gold on a natural leaf, signed by Shafi'
Turkey, dated AH 1321/AD 1903

31 —
An illuminated calligraphic panel incorporating the names of the Prophets and verses of the Qur'an
probably Northern Caucasus, late 19th Century

32 —
An illuminated Hilyeh incorporating the attributes of the Prophet Muhammad
North India, late 19th Century

33 —
A large illuminated calligraphic panel
probably Daghestan or Chechniya, late 19th/20th Century

34^• —
A large illuminated Qur`an section (surat al-Fatihah, I, complete; surat Ya-Sin, XXXVI, complete) written in monumental muhaqqaq script in gulzar style
Persia, 20th Century

35 —
A rare stemmed glass Goblet
Persia or Syria, 10th - 13th Centuries

36 —
An Abbasid moulded glass Bottle with Figures
Persia or Mesopotamia, 8th-11th Century

37 —
A glass Perfume Bottle
Syria, 7th-9th Century

38 —
A moulded glass Bowl
Persia, 10th/ 11th Century

39^Y —
Two Umayyad bone Panel Fragments
Egypt, 7th/ 8th Century
(2)

40 —
Two groups of belt or harness Mounts
Central Asia, probably 10th Century
(2)

41^W —
A Ghaznavid carved marble Panel
North East Persia, 12th/ 13th Century

42 —
A carved marble funerary Panel
probably Fatimid, Egypt, 11th/ 12th Century

43^W —
A Fatimid marble Jar-Stand (kilga)
Egypt, 12th Century

44 —
An Umayyad monochrome pottery Vessel
Syria or Mesopotamia, 8th century

45 —
A Samanid calligraphic slip-painted pottery Bowl
East Persia, 10th Century

46 —
An Abbasid calligraphic pottery Bowl
Mesopotamia, 9th Century

47 —
A Nishapur buffware pottery Bowl
Persia, 10th Century