Top 20 of the Most Expensive Islamic Art Pieces – part 2 (blog)

Welcome back for the part 2 of this Top 20, in which we will explore the 12 most expensive pieces of Islamic art ever sold. Yes, 12, despite Part 1 already covering numbers 20 to 11. When initially drafting the list, I forgot to number one of the entries, and I then found another piece which I had completely forgotten about (it was sold in 2010, to be fair). Let’s not dwell too much on my methods, hope that I haven’t forgotten anything else (I might have, in all honesty), and let’s consider these as two bonus entries in this Top… 22!
For reminder, I purposefully excluded the “Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence” auction held at Christie’s New York in June 2019, which was composed of jewelled pieces, gems and paintings from the Al-Thani collection, some being questionably “Islamic”. As well, I only went back to 2010 for ease and I did not take into account inflation, so the prices discussed here and in part 1 are as they were at the time of the sale. Without further delays, let’s jump in!

All prices include premium. Click on the auction date and estimate to access the catalogue notice.

12 (Bonus entry) – £ 4,521,250: A Mamluk silver & copper-inlaid brass candlestick, Egypt or Syria, 1340-5

Sotheby’s, 6 April 2011, lot 325: £2,000,000 – 3,000,000 

Mamluk brass Candlestick, Sotheby’s 06.04.11, 325

11 (Bonus entry) –  £ 4,842,000: “Rustam kicking the boulder”, Shah Tahmasp’s Shahnama, Tabriz, c. 1530

Christie’s, 31 March 2022, lot 41: £2,500,000 – 4,000,000

“Rustam kicks the boulder”, Shah Tahmasp’s Shahnamah, Christie’s, 31.03.22, 41

10 –  £ 4,875,800: “Bizhan slays Nastihan”, Shah Tahmasp’s Shahnama, Tabriz, c. 1530

Sotheby’s 26 April 2023, lot 41: £4,000,000 – 6,000,000

“Bizhan slays Nastihan”, Shah Tahmasp’s Shahnamah, Sotheby’s 26.04.23, 41

9 –  £ 5,323,500: Portrait of Suleyman by a Follower of Gentile Bellini, Venice, c. 1520

Sotheby’s 01 May 2019, lot 129: £250,000 – 350,000

Portrait of Suleyman, Sotheby’s 01.05.19, 129

8 –  £ 5,359,950: A blue & white Pottery Charger, Iznik, Ottoman Turkey, c. 1480

Sotheby’s 24 October 2018, lot 134: £300,000 – 500,000

Debbane Charger, Sotheby’s 24.10.18, 134

7 –  £ 5,442,000: A square Pashmina Carpet, Mughal India, c. 1650

Christie’s 27 October 2022, lot 200: £2,500,000 – 3,000,000

Mughal Carpet, Christie’s 27.10.22, 200

6 – £ 6,201,250: A Kerman ‘vase’ carpet, Persia, 17th century

Christie’s 15 April 2010, lot 100: £200,000 – 300,000

5 –  £ 6,632,400: A gold and silver-inlaid brass Candlestick, probably Mosul, circa 1275

Sotheby’s 27 October 2021, lot 170: £2,000,000 – 3,000,000

Candlestick, Mossul, c. 1275, Sotheby’s 27.10.21, 170

4 –  £ 7,433,250: “Faridun tests his Sons”, Shah Tahmasp’s Shahnama, Tabriz, c. 1530

Sotheby’s, 06 April 2011, lot 78: £2,000,000 – 3,000,000

“Faridun tests his sons”, Shah Tahmasp’s Shahnamah, Sotheby’s, 06.04.11, 78

3 –  £ 8,061,700: “Rustam recovers Rakhsh”, Shah Tahmasp’s Shahnama, Tabriz, c. 1530

Sotheby’s 26 October 2022, lot 49: £4,000,000 – 6,000,000

“Rustam recovers Rakhsh”, Shah Tahmasp’s Shahnamah, Sotheby’s 26.04.23, 49

Honourable Mention: An Abbasid Ka’ba Key, Mecca, dated 573/ 1177-1178: £9,200,000

Sotheby’s, 9 April 2008, lot 51: £400,000-500,000

The fake Abbasid Ka’ba key, Sotheby’s 9.04.08, 51

2 –  £ 14,080,900: The Bedchamber Sword of Tipu Sultan, India, 18th Century

Bonhams, 23 May 2023, lot 175: £1,500,000 – 2,000,000

Valued at £1,500,000, the bedchamber sword of Tipu Sultan recently sold for almost 10 times more. The sword itself is of great quality and in an almost pristine state of preservation, but let’s be honest, this price is hardly justified. The sword was ‘found’ in Tipu Sultan’s private apartments after his death in 1799 and offered to the Major General David Baird. It remained in his family until 2003 when it was sold in London for £150,000 (against an estimate of £150,000-250,000). Bonhams recognised the craze for everything Tipu Sultan and presented the sword 20 years later for 10 times the estimate, and it became the 2nd most expensive Islamic art object ever sold. In the mind of many, Tipu Sultan represents the fight against oppression led by corporate greed, so the irony is not lost that his possessions now make millions of pound on London art market.

Tipu Sultan’s sword, Bonhams, 23.05.23, 175

1 – $33,765,000: The Clark Sickle-Leaf carpet, prob. Kerman, Persia, 17th Century

Sotheby’s New York, 5 June 2013, lot 12: $5,000,000 – 7,000,000

Clark Sickle-Leaf carpet, Sotheby’s NY 5.06.13, lot 12
Detail of the Clark Sickle-Leaf carpet, Sotheby’s NY 5.06.13

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