DOHA.- Under the patronage of Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (Chairperson of Qatar Museums), HE Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim al Sulaiti of the Cultural Village Foundation-Katara along with HE Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al-Thani (Chairman of Qatari Businessmen Association) officially opened AlBahie on Sunday 6th March with a preview of its first April auction.

Based in Qatar, AlBahie is the first auction house of its kind in the region. Its inaugural auction will take place on 5th April 2016 and will be the first in a regular schedule of bi-annual auctions, featuring an impressive breadth of Islamic, Middle Eastern and Orientalist work, including Modern and Contemporary Art from the region, Fine Furniture, Jewelry and Watches, Decorative Arts and Orientalist Carpets and Rugs.

AlBahie will cater for a broad range of collectors, answering both a growing local and regional collectors’ marker, as well as the strong Middle Eastern and global audience of connoisseurs for Orientalist work with sales accessible online via livestream bidding at AlBahie.com via Invaluable.com. The auction house will also provide new collectors and potential local and regional consignors with access to confidential, expert advice and valuations for their items.

Appropriately located in Katara, the world-renowned cultural centre for Qatar with its outstanding museums, theatres and performance spaces, AlBahie will offer Qataris and visitors to the region alike, a trusted and truly local way to buy fine collectibles and Middle Eastern Art for the first time.

AlBahie will be led by Director, Corinne Lefebvre, who will bring to the venture her experience in auction houses, galleries and as a History of Art professor; she will be assisted by Alexandra Bots who joins AlBahie from Christie’s Amsterdam.

Corinne Lefebvre commented: “The market for Oriental and Middle Eastern, Fine and Decorative Art is of huge global significance – at AlBahie we have the advantage of local knowledge but with a considerable international reach, offering the best possible opportunities for our consignees and a superb selection of items for our collectors. AlBahie is set to be a wonderful addition for a region famed for its connoisseurship and love of the arts.”

The first auction is also available to preview online with print catalogues available by request from AlBahie.com. Outstanding items span the complete range of collecting interest offered by AlBahie and include a rare and exquisite 19th century mother-of-pearl Ottoman cabinet, with gold, silver, turquoise and ivory with a pre-sale estimate of $180,000, as well as a striking example of the work of contemporary sculptor Fernandez Arman, valued with a pre-sale estimate in excess of $60,000.

The inaugural sale will be an opportunity to view the considerable breadth of work on offer at AlBahie, with 240 lots including works on paper, Qur’an and Manuscripts, Sculpture, Orientalist Paintings, Enamels, Arms and Armour, Glass, Fine Furniture and Indian Period Jewelry.

With future specialist auctions including Oriental Carpets and Rugs (May 2016) AlBahie will be a significant addition to the international auction world and enhance the world-class offering of Katara. AlBahie will also work to enhance awareness of the region’s art through educational outreach.