LONDON.- Christie's announce the results of the seasonal Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art including Highlights from the Dalloul Collection live sale which took place today at Christie’s headquarters in London. The sale comprising 51 lots including 33 works from the Dalloul Art Collection achieved a total of £4,944,240 / US$6,427,512, exceeding the pre-sale high estimate. The auction attracted bidders and buyers from 17 countries, with 25% being millennials, and the sale achieved 80% sold by lot and 92% by value.
The leading lot in the sale, Mahmoud Saïd (1897, Alexandria-1964, Alexandria) Vue de la plage à Cassata en Grèce (View of the beach in Cassata in Greece), (estimate £250,000-350,000 / US$340,000-470,000), realised £844,200 / US$1,097,460 (illustrated above under the hammer). Another top highlight was the mesmerising work by Marwan, Head, (estimate £180,000-250,000) which realised £378,000, double its low estimate and achieving a world artist record.
After prolonged and competitive bidding on the phones, lot 6, Mohammed Al Saleem (1939, Marat - 1997, Prato) Bi nur al-iman, nara al-s'adah (In the light of faith, we see happiness) (estimate £180,000–250,000) achieved £630,000 / $US819,000, more than three times its low estimate.
From the Dalloul Art Collection, there was also very strong interest in works by pioneering female artist Samia Halaby, notably in lot 38, Lemon Tree, a private commission by Dr. Ramzi Dalloul from the artist reached £233,100 / US$303,030, and lot 14, Half Night realised £138,600 / US$180,80, more than three times its low estimate. In addition, the North African grouping in the Dalloul Collection performed strongly, led by lot 35, Farid Belkahia, Arbre arc-en ciel (Rainbow Tree) achieving £201,000 / US$262,080, nearly four times its low estimate.
The sale achieved 7 world records:
• Lot 10, artist record, Marwan, Head, realised £378,000 / US$491,400
• Lot 31, artist debut and record, Safia Farhat, Nejia and Saïda, realised £32,760 / US$42,588
• Lot 35, artist record, Farid Belkahia, Arbre arc-en ciel (Rainbow Tree), achieved £201,600 / US$262,080
• Lot 39, artist record, Kamal Boullata, Kun-Fa-Yakun (Be and It is) reached £119,700 / US$155,610 over three times its low estimate
• Lot 44, artist record, Laila Shawa, The Hands of Fatima, realised £32,760 / US$42,588
• Lot 45, artist record, Abdulhay Musallam Zarara, Min al-Turath -al-Dabkeh, (From Heritage: Dabkeh), achieved £37,800 / US$49,140
• Lot 51, artist record, Ziad Dalloul, La Chambre, realised £35,280 / US$45,864 five times its low estimate
Dr. Ridha Moumni, Chairman, Christie’s Middle East and North Africa comments, ‘The great success of today’s sale goes to reinforce the continued international demand and interest in Arab art. The pieces from the Dalloul Collection represented a curation of modern and contemporary eras with works by leading Arab artists from one of the most prestigious collections in the Middle East. Christie’s is proud to continue to work closely with Dr. Basel Dalloul and his team, and collectively raise awareness of the immense talent of artists from across the Arab world on an international platform which they so richly deserve’.
Dr. Moumni continues, ‘I wish to pay tribute to Dr. Basel Dalloul and to the legacy that he continues to emulate left by his late parents who started their collection when there was very limited visibility of Arab art beyond the Middle East. Today, due to their incredible foresight and the continued dedication of collectors such as Dr. Basel Dalloul, Arab art, and artists are receiving the recognition they deserve internationally’.
The Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art Online sale 21 October – 4 November, includes approximately 50 works spanning paintings, drawings, photography, and sculpture from 1921 to 2022, including 13 works from the Dalloul Collection. The sale closes for bidding on Monday 4 November.
