Islamic Works of Art

Arts of the Islamic world cover artefacts from countries in North Africa, Turkey, the Middle East and the Indian sub-Continent.

These works take a variety of forms. They include manuscripts with fine calligraphy; early medieval pottery such as Kashan ware, colourful glazed Isnik pieces or decorative tiles from Safavid dynasty in Iran; metalwares like bronzes from Mamluk Egypt or Timurid Persia; astrolabes which pre-date most of their Western counterparts; and early Silk Road textiles such as Sogdian weavings.


img_28-2.jpg

Interview with Runjeet Singh: ‘I’ve always liked to challenge myself’

21 August 2026

Runjeet Singh is an Indian and Islamic art dealer. A collector first, he began dealing in antiques in 2014 and then opened a British Asian Contemporary art gallery this April in Royal Leamington Spa. The gallery operates alongside his antiques-focused dealership. Here he tells ATG all about his business

img_12-2.jpg

Isfahan to Islington: tiles ended up with ‘almost legendary’ dealer Jack Webb

21 August 2026

Safavid examples from the north London dealer's collection find their latest homes after palace demolition

Mamluk bowl

Two auction records smashed in Islamic and Indian art with 14th century glass and 17th century scientific instrument

05 May 2026

Two auction records were broken during the London spring series of Islamic and Indian art.

Richard Burton books

Personal library of a pioneering British scholar of Armenian and Iranian studies comes to auction

28 April 2026

Volumes from the personal library of a pioneering British scholar of Armenian and Iranian studies form part of Sworders’ latest Books and Maps auction.

img_13-6.jpg

Kangxi wall sconces bid over five times estimate

24 April 2026

An auction titled China 500 Years held by Mayfair orientalist firm Plakas (29% buyer’s premium) on March 19 included elements of two rare Kangxi (1662-1722) blue and white porcelain wall sconces. They were estimated at £2000-3000 but contested to £17,000.

Iznik dish

Iznik pottery from two pioneer British collections returns to auction

17 April 2026

Produced in Ottoman Turkey between the 15th and 17th centuries, Iznik pottery experienced a sudden and passionate surge of Western interest in the mid 19th century.

img_32-5.jpg

Obituary: Bashir Wali Mohamed (1939-2026)

06 March 2026

The world of Islamic art has lost one of its most beloved sons with the passing of Bashir Mohamed, a true visionary in his field who possessed the intuitive spirit of a hunter and the soul of a historian.

Mamluk manuscript

Pick of the week: Mamluk manuscript gallops to £150,000

05 January 2026

An ‘exceptional and newly discovered’ Mamluk manuscript copy of an Arabic text on hippiatry (equine medicine) was the highlight of Lyon & Turnbull’s latest Islamic and Indian art sale in London.

img_44-2.jpg

Indian and Islamic auction previews

27 October 2025

A selection of upcoming auction highlights

Lama Koubrously, Marta Somauroo and Ilaria Bellucci

Azca Auctions announces new team after directors depart

06 October 2025

Azca Auctions in Hammersmith, west London, has announced new recruits following the departure of the founding directors earlier this summer.

Iznik tile

Magnificent Iznik tile takes £195,000 price at auction

16 June 2025

A rare Iznik pottery tile made for the Çini li Hamam bathhouse during the reign of Suleyman the Magnificent sold for £195,000 at Lyon & Turnbull.

Timurid manuscript folio

Unique Timurid manuscript folio estimated £2m-3m at Christie’s

16 April 2025

A folio from a rare 15th century Timurid manuscript will be offered at Christie’s in London on May 1.

Harivamsa folio

Asia Week New York celebrates its 16th birthday

19 February 2025

Asia Week New York (AWNY) takes place from March 13–21 and is a celebration of Asian art featuring exhibitions, auctions and special events focused on Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Art.

Mamluk mosque lamp

Bonhams sets new auction record for any glass object

13 November 2024

A 14th-century mosque lamp from Egypt or Syria achieved the highest price for a glass object at auction when it sold at four times estimate at Bonhams in London yesterday.

img_32-1.jpg

Japanese, Vietnamese and Korean art auction previews

28 October 2024

A selection of lots from upcoming auctions held at the same time as Asian Art in London

img_25-2.jpg

Better together: Major auction houses open doors for dealer exhibitions as part of Asian Art in London

28 October 2024

Auction houses and dealers have launched a partnership for this year’s Asian Art in London event allowing exhibitions to be held in salerooms at the three major firms for the first time.

ATG Lawyer Writes V3 JPG

A lawyer writes: Tale of a tile tussle sparked by ownership rights

02 September 2024

Islamic artefact about to appear at auction was once part of V&A collection

img_13-3.jpg

Iznik at the double thanks to two private collections at Olympia Auctions

08 July 2024

The sale of Indian and Islamic art at Olympia Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) in London on June 5 included two fine private collections of Iznik pottery.

img_12-1.jpg

Archer family provenance points the way to debut sale success

08 July 2024

Father and son collection stars as centrepiece of 150-lot inaugural Islamic and Indian art offering

img_7-1.jpg

New saleroom Azca launches in west London with Indian and Islamic selection

10 June 2024

London has a new boutique auction house with the launch this month of Azca Auctions in Hammersmith, west London.

Categories

News