Exquisite illuminated Qur’an
The art of learning the Qur’an by heart: An exquisite illuminated Ottoman Qur’an dated 1113 AH/ 1701AD, by the celebrated calligrapher Ahmed Muharrem Efendi, who knew the Qur’an by heart and was therefore called Hafiz Ahmed (est. £60,000 – 80,000). For further details please see the dedicated page on our website.
Curtain of the Holy Ka’ba door (burqa) 1194AH/ 1780 AD
This silk and silver threaded curtain was intended for use over the door of the Ka’ba, holiest site in Islam (est. £80,000-120,000). For further details see the dedicated page on our website.
A gem-covered rock crystal cup – rubies, emeralds and diamonds
Rock crystal objects inlaid with precious stones and of courtly quality from the Mughal period are extremely rare (est. £30,000-50,000). For further details see the dedicated page on our website.
Centuries old jewellery of contemporary appeal
A model wears a gold, seed pearl and diamond pendant (18th century, £7,000-10,000) and a seed pearl gem-set headdress(19th century, £5,000-7,000) to show the timeless appeal of centuries old jewellery. Please see further details of the pendantand the headdress
The Cairo departure of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca
Ludwig Deutsch’s monumental 1909 work The Procession of the Mahmal through the streets of Cairo (est. £1 – 1.5 million), not seen on the market for over 40 years. In this painting, Deutsch records in extraordinary detail an event central to Muslim life, the Cairo departure of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. The camel-borne mahmal, the elaborate coffer containing the Koran that accompanies the pilgrims to Mecca, is glimpsed on a crowded narrow street. For further details please see the dedicated page on our website.
The last one of its kind on the market, with all other examples now in museums
A view of The Bazaar of the Coppersmiths, Cairo painted in 1842 by David Roberts, one of the great travelling artists of his age (est. £600,000 – 800,000). The most significant work by Roberts to be seen at auction in several decades and the last one of its kind on the market, with all other examples now in museums. For further details please see the dedicate page on our website.
Sotheby’s London Auction of Orientalist Art: Tuesday 8th April 2014
Sotheby’s London Auction of Arts of the Islamic World: Wednesday 9th April 2014