Phoebe Jowett Smith
Department Coordinator | Islamic and Indian Art
Christie’s LIVETM registration is open for this auction.
Telephone and in-room bidding
If you’d like to register for a telephone bid or to attend the auction in person, please contact Client Services.
Absentee bidding
To leave absentee bids, go to the pages of the lots you’re interested in and select ‘Place bid’.
Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds including Rugs and Carpets
Sale Overview
The Spring auction of Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds Including Rugs and Carpets, celebrates an extensive range of artistic traditions which includes a curated selection of beautiful and rare paintings, manuscripts, objects and carpets from across the Islamic and Indian worlds. Highlights include two splendid works on paper which exemplify the virtuosity of the Persianate illustrated manuscript tradition. The first is a double-sided illustrated folio from the Najh al-Faradis (‘Pathway to Heavens’) commissioned for the Timurid ruler Sultan Abu Sa’id Gurkan, and the second a late Mughal epic manuscript combining the Shahnama, Garshaspnama and Samnama, lavishly illustrated with over one hundred paintings. Further important works of art include a significant collection of Fatimid jewellery, an impressive Mamluk silver-inlaid brass candlestick and a beautifully illustrated 19th century costume album attributed to the Ottoman painter Fenerci Mehmed.
In addition, the auction promises an exceptional selection of rugs and carpets, where we are honoured to include a distinguished collection of important Classical Chinese carpets from the estate of the late Hans König, that includes one of just seven surviving complete Ming Imperial ‘Dragon’ carpets in the West. Other sale highlights include three impressive Safavid carpets from Isfahan that once belonged to the esteemed American Senator William A. Clark. Renowned for his discerning taste and immense wealth, Clark acquired these magnificent pieces during a time when Persian carpets were regarded as the epitome of luxury and artistry.
A Selection of works will be on view in Dubai from 10th - 17th April
Auction times
01 May 10:30 AM (BST)
Lots 1-204
Our specialist’s selection
Brought to you by
Sara Plumbly
Director, Head of Department | Islamic and Indian Art
Sara Plumbly is Director and Head of the Islamic and Indian Art department at Christie’s King Street. She joined the company in 2006, and has worked on the department’s biannual sales of Islamic art since that time. She has been responsible for the successful King Street sales since that time, including collections such as the Library of the Late Djafar Ghazi and the Private Collection Donated to Benefit the University of Oxford. She has also overseen the sale of several record breaking pieces, including the important early Iznik bowl that sold for £1.4 million in April 2014.
Sara studied Arabic and Persian at Durham University and Arabic for another year at the American University in Cairo. Whilst in Egypt she also worked at the Gayer Anderson Museum, a 17th century house in the heart of Islamic Cairo. She subsequently completed her Master’s Degree in Islamic Art and Archaeology at the University of Oxford, focussing for her thesis on the restoration and conservation of architectural monuments in Cairo, particularly those of the Fatimid period.
She has lived and travelled extensively across the Middle East and North Africa, including particularly long periods in Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Sudan.
Sara studied Arabic and Persian at Durham University and Arabic for another year at the American University in Cairo. Whilst in Egypt she also worked at the Gayer Anderson Museum, a 17th century house in the heart of Islamic Cairo. She subsequently completed her Master’s Degree in Islamic Art and Archaeology at the University of Oxford, focussing for her thesis on the restoration and conservation of architectural monuments in Cairo, particularly those of the Fatimid period.
She has lived and travelled extensively across the Middle East and North Africa, including particularly long periods in Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Sudan.
Louise Broadhurst
Director, International Head of Department | Rugs & Carpets
Louise’s career at Christie’s began over 25 years ago in 1998. In 2002, she was appointed Junior Specialist in the Rugs and Carpets department where she went on to be made Head of Sale in 2012 and Director and Head of Department in 2014. Following Louise’s extensive years of experience and deep knowledge of the field, she has helped nurture the extraordinary sales and record prices which have greatly contributed to Christie’s dominance in this category. She has been involved with a number of high profile sales including the rare Safavid ‘Vase’ carpets formerly in the collection of Alice de Rothschild in 2016 (over £2.3 million), the Pommersfelden silk and metal-thread Safavid ‘Polonaise’ rugs in 2019 (over £7.5 million), the Imperial Ming ‘Dragon’ carpet which broke a world auction record for a Chinese carpet in Paris in 2019 (6.8 million euros) and the Royal Indian Mughal fragment that broke a further record in 2022 (over £5.4 million). Louise has nurtured strong relationships with established and emerging collectors within her field and during her time as Head of Department, Christie’s now hold eight of the top ten auction records in this field.
Behnaz Atighi Moghaddam
Head of Sale | Islamic and Indian Art
Behnaz Atighi Moghaddam is the Head of Sale in the Islamic and Indian Art department at Christie’s King Street. She joined the company in 2017, and works on the department’s biannual sales of Islamic and Indian art as well as being involved in important single-owner collections, notably the Maharajas and Mughal Magnificence sale which achieved the highest total for any auction of Indian art and jewelled objects.
Behnaz obtained a Bachelor’s degree in History of Art and Archaeology from the School of Oriental and African Studies and University College London. She subsequently completed her Master’s degree in Museum Studies at UCL, writing a thesis on illustrated manuscripts and the architecture of the Haramain in Mecca and Medina. She joins us from the Victoria and Albert Museum where she was an Assistant Curator and Exhibition Researcher. Behnaz is fluent in Persian and has a working knowledge of Arabic.
How to find us
Address
8 King Street St. James 's
Viewing
Contact us
Launchpad
Related auctions & events
Date of an event
1 May
Type of an event
Live auction