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.


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Auction house looks beyond Lakeland for diverse lots

19 April 2019

In the proud tradition of UK provincial auction houses, the 2000-lot, three-day sale at Mitchells (20% buyer’s premium) offered a world of artefacts from way beyond its Lakeland base of Cockermouth.

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Rare Middle Eastern dagger points to a debut auction

19 April 2019

A late 19th century gold bone-handled Arab dagger was hammered down at £4100 at the inaugural sale of Knightsbridge auction house Kings Russell (22% buyer’s premium).

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Previews: £30,000 plus

15 April 2019

Our weekly selection from salerooms and dealerships.

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Rediscovered Iznik charger leads London’s Islamic Week sales after record-breaking 20-minute bidding battle

29 October 2018

A newly discovered Ottoman charger described as one of the most important pieces of Iznik pottery remaining in private hands was the toast of Islamic Week, selling at Sotheby’s for a spectacular £4.55m (£5.4m including buyer’s premium).

Iznik dish

Rediscovered Iznik charger takes £4.55m at Sotheby's auction

25 October 2018

The Debbane charger, a newly-discovered 15th century Iznik dish, was the toast of Sotheby’s Islamic Week offering, selling for a spectacular £4.55m (£5.4m including buyer’s premium).

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Rediscovered Iznik masterwork headlines Islamic Week auction series

22 October 2018

A newly discovered Ottoman charger, described as one of the most important pieces of Iznik pottery in private hands, will be offered at Sotheby’s Arts of the Islamic World sale this week.

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Five choice objects up for auction in Islamic Week

19 October 2018

The biannual series of Islamic and Indian art auctions held in April and October offers a wide range of art and artefacts celebrating the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the Middle East and the subcontinent. This year’s ‘Islamic Week’, running from October 22-26, includes sales from five auction houses, highlights of which are pictured below.

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Tributes paid to influential Islamic art dealer Oliver Hoare

17 September 2018

Tributes have been paid to Islamic art’s ‘most influential’ dealer Oliver Hoare who has died aged 73 after a battle with cancer.

Oliver Hoare

Islamic art's 'most influential' dealer Oliver Hoare dies at 73

11 September 2018

Oliver Hoare, the leading Islamic and Asian art dealer, has died aged 73 after a battle with cancer.

Church Street

Sun shines on Church Street’s latest art and antiques events

27 June 2018

Church Street traders have two reasons to celebrate after the successful launch of Middle Eastern-focused AlFayez in Alfies Antique Market and the second edition of its Sunday street market event 'Antiques Anonymous'.

Judge rules on Fatimid ewer ownership case

25 June 2018

A long-running legal dispute over a Fatimid rock crystal ewer that had been due to sell at Sotheby’s has been settled in court.

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Pick of the Week: Talismanic shirts lead to saleroom good fortune

30 April 2018

Two finely executed Indian talismanic shirts made multi-estimate sums at Roseberys in south London.

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Powerful bidding for Islamic Week stars at auction

30 April 2018

Multi-estimate sums proved the norm among the star lots during London’s Islamic Week auction series.

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Stolen Islamic tile discovered in London art gallery will return to Uzbekistan

19 July 2017

An important glazed Islamic calligraphic tile stolen in Uzbekistan is to be returned to the country after it was discovered for sale in a London gallery.

Francesca Leoni of the Ashmolean Museum

LAPADA to host Ashmolean’s Francesca Leoni as headline speaker at upcoming fair

13 April 2016

Francesca Leoni, the Yousef Jameel Curator of Islamic Art at the Ashmolean Museum, will be the headlining speaker at the 2016 LAPADA Art and Antiques Fair taking place from September 13-18 in Berkeley Square, London.

Lawrence of Arabia jambiya dagger

Treasures under threat of export

11 February 2016

Export bars have been placed on the robes and dagger of TE Lawrence (1888-1935), better known as Lawrence of Arabia, in a bid to keep the items in the UK.

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An £800,000 toast for Gujarati tray

16 October 2015

The highlight of Bonhams’ latest sale of Islamic and Indian art in London was this rare Gujarati mother-of-pearl artwork of early date and exceptional size.

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Unrecorded Fatimid gold dinar emerges at Wilkes & Curtis auction

27 August 2015

Among the highlights of the current Wilkes & Curtis auction is a Fatimid gold dinar from the reign of the Caliph al-Hakim (AD996-1021).

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Tiger of Mysore’s treasures return to auction with interest

28 April 2015

A key component of this spring’s series of Islamic auctions was Bonhams’ 30-lot consignment of objects relating to Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore.

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Asian art and jewellery drive regional sales in 2014

16 January 2015

Annual auction totals hold steady across provincial salerooms.

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