LONDON.- Sotheby’s October auctions of Contemporary Art/Arab & Iranian and Arts of the Islamic World concluded today bringing a combined total of£10,901,275/$16,843,460.

 

Arts of the Islamic World Sales, 4-5 October 2011
Sotheby’s Arts of the Islamic World auctions today concluded bringing a combined total of £8,566,075/$13,233,241.

Sales Highlights:
*The top-selling lot of the Arts of the Islamic World Evening Sale was An Important post-sasanian silk shirt, Khurasan or Central Asia 7th-9th century, which sold for £713,250/$1,102,684 (est. £600,000-800,000).

 

*The top-selling lot from the Harvey B. Plotnick Collection of Islamic Ceramics was A Rare Abbasid Lustre Bowl with geometric and stylised vegetal decoration, Iraq, 9th century, which sold for £301,250/$465,732 (est. £250,000-350,000). This magnificent bowl represents one of the earliest attempts at lustre painting on ceramic, a radical new technique that involved the application of metallic pigments to the surface of a pre-fired glaze to give the appearance of glittering gold.

 

 

A large 9th century Abbasid lustre bowl with geometric and stylised vegetal decoration from Iraq. Estimate: £250,000-350,000. Sold for: £301,250 /$465,732.  Photo: Sotheby's

 

*The highest price paid in the Arts of the Islamic World Day sale was for A Rare and Important Silk Tunic with Arab Inscription, Sogdiana, Central Asia, 8th Century, which sold for £481,250/$743,146 (est. £400,000-600,000).

 

 

A Rare and Important Silk Tunic with Arab Inscription, Sogdiana, Central Asia, 8th Century. Estimate;  £400,000-600,000. for:£481,250/$743,146 .  Photo: Sotheby's