Strong results for Asian auction

Indian, Islamic, Himalayan and South-east Asian works saw strong demand in a recent sale at Olympia Auctions in London.

The top lot in the sale was from the group of manuscripts: Five Suras of an illuminated Quran, probably from Kashmir, signed Muhammad Taqi and dated 1810-11 A.D which sold for a hammer of £52,000. Nicholas Shaw, an expert in the department, commented this was a strong price in an area of Indian manuscripts which is witnessing strengthening demand. 

Among the Indian and Persian rugs, another new field within the sale, a late-19th century Agra rug from North India sold for £1,200. Leading into Persian pottery, a fine Kashan turquoise-glazed silhouette ware jug, Persia, 12th/13th century sold for £5,000. 

Among a fine selection of Iznik tiles – one of a number of subjects about which Arthur Millner, head of sale is well-known for his in-depth expertise, (his book Damascus Tiles will be reprinted in 2025) – a handsome pair of Iznik tiles, Ottoman Anatolia, circa 1570-1580 sold for £15,000. A single Iznik tile, Ottoman Anatolia, circa 1580 sold for £5,500. 

Among the Tibetan objects which included bronze figures, paintings and ritual objects, a highlight was three embroidered silk thang-kas from Tibet, 19th century, which sold together for £10,500. Indian stone sculptures were also in demand, the top lot, a buff sandstone relief panel depicting Umamahesvara, central India, 11th/12th century, selling for £9,500. 

Among the Indian miniatures, an enraged elephant, provincial Mughal, Bikaner or Deccan, 18th century, sold for £5,000. This had originally been in the well-known Heeramaneck Collection formed in the USA in the mid-20th century. 

In another newly expanded section of the sale, modern and contemporary Indian art, was the mixed media on paper, Untitled (Man with nude) by Francis Newton Souza (Indian, 1924-2002), which sold for £29,000. Another highlight was a bronze sculpture Untitled (Head of Bendre) 1984-85 by Akbar Padamsee (Indian 1928-2020) which sold for £10,000. 

In other parts of the sale, a Siculo-Arabic casket, probably made in Sicily, 12th century sold for £11,000. This casket is one of a group of ivory caskets with copper-gilt mounts which are believed to have been made in Palermo by Muslim craftsmen during the Norman occupation. The engraved circle and dot motifs on the ivory can also be seen on chess pieces and other ivory objects attributed to 11th/12th-century Sicily. 

Arthur Millner commented: “I was delighted to see such interest across the sale, with superb results in all categories, including Persian rugs, manuscripts, ceramics and Iznik tiles, Tibetan bronzes and Thang-kas, 18th century Indian miniatures and modern and contemporary Indian paintings. I am excited to see the sales broadening out into newer areas such as rugs, manuscripts and paintings and look forward to continuing the momentum at our next sale in June 2025.”