Iranian, Islamic Art Selling Like Hot Cakes in London Auctions

TEHRAN.(Iranart) – Iranian and Islamic artworks fetched 27 million pounds in three international auctions held in London – Bonhams, Sotheby’s and Christie’s.

The Holy Quran was the frontrunner in all these historic auctions in the spring.  This included critical works of calligraphy and hand-written books from Iran.

One of the top-sellers was the Holy Qur’an from the 15th century, signed Tanam al-Najmi al-Maliki al-Ashrafi, Mamluk Egypt, Dated 21 Jumada I 894/30 April 1489, which sold for 3,724,750 GBP.

Bonhams

In the Islamic and Indian Art Including The Lion and the Sun, art auctioned from Qajar and Indian-Islamic art, 216 artworks fetched a total of 1,570,000 GBP. An illuminated Qur'an from Iran, Qajar Persia, the illumination dated AH 1205/AD 1790, sold for 22,562 GBP.

Sotheby’s

The Arts of the Islamic World including Fine Rugs and Carpets auctioned 302 artworks, fetching a record total of 9,914,625 million GBP. This included magnificent works from Iran:

A rare miniature Qur’an on vellum, North Africa, Near East or Persia, 10th century AD – 93,750 GBP.

Nur al-Din ‘Abd al-Rahman Jami (d.1492), Yusuf wa Zulaykha, signed by Mir ‘Ali, Bukhara, Shaybanid, dated 938 AH/1531-32 AD - 81,250 GBP.

An illuminated sixty-part Qur'an and lacquered box, Persia, Qajar, dated 1258-59 AH/1842-44 AD - 62,500 GBP.

An illuminated miniature Qur’an section on vellum, Persia, late 9th/early 10th century AD – 40,000 GBP.

Christie’s

The Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds Including Oriental Rugs and Carpets fetched in total 16,031,375 GBP with 179 artworks.

Qur;an, signed Tanam al-Najmi al-Maliki al-Ashrafi, Dated 21 Jumada I 894/30 APRIL 148 – 3,724,750 GBP.

Abu Al-Qasim Firdawsi (D. AH 416/1025 AD): Shahnameh – 27,500 GBP.