LONDON.- An important Old Master portrait from the collection of the late Queen of Jordan, Sharifa Dina Bint Abdul-Hamid, sold for £275,063, more than five times its estimate, at
Bonhams Islamic and Indian Art sale in London (Tuesday 22 October). The Portrait of Nur Al-Din Hussain Khan by the British artist James Wales, had an estimate of £50,000-70,000. The sale made a total of £1,409,565.
Other lots that achieved top prices included:
A Schist figure of Hariti, Circa 2nd Century, depicted seated with one hand holding a child on her lap sold for £187,563. Estimate £80,000-150,000.
A velvet Ottoman panel from the 17th Century sold for £93,813. Estimate £15,000-20,000.
A fine Mughal gem-set jade archers ring from 17th Century sold for £35,063. Estimate £10,000-15,000.
Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Sale
A Boy with a Tray of Apples, by Louay Kayyali, one of the most sought-after Arab artists of the Modernist era, sold for £112,563 against an estimate of £30,000-50,000 at Bonhams Modern & Contemporary Middle Eastern Art sale (Wednesday 23 October). The sale made a total of £1,424,038
Other lots that exceeded their estimate included:
Two Nubian Girls, by Munir Fahim (Egypt, 1935-1983) sold for £106,313. Estimate £8,000-12,000.
Rajul Fil-Sahraa (Man in Desert) by one of the pioneers of modern Arab art, Dia Azzawi (Iraq, born 1939) sold for £100,063. The painting had an estimate of £40,000 - £60,000.
The Launderette by Louay Kayyali sold for £100,063. The work shows another exquisite example of the artists tender depictions of Syrian daily life. Estimate £30,000-50,000.
Trees by Sohrab Sepehri, an exceptional early work from his celebrated Trees series, also sold well achieving £87,563. It had an estimate of £75,000 - £100,000.