Arts of the Islamic World & India

An exceptionally rare carved ivory powder flask, Sri Lanka, 17th century

Restricted Species

Estimate

50,000 - 80,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

the body from a single piece of ivory, deeply carved with occidental vegetal motifs, the spout carved en-suite, the locket and lid with decorated with complementary border, brass mounts, ‘J/J’ carved shallowly into the lid

26cm.

This lot contains elephant ivory, which is an endangered species. Sotheby’s recommends that buyers check with their own government regarding any importation requirements prior to placing a bid, as lots containing endangered species may be subject to import restrictions in certain countries or necessitate licenses and certificates for export from some and import into others. The possession of an export license or certificate does not guarantee obtaining its counterpart elsewhere. Buyers must ascertain and adhere to all applicable regulatory requirements regarding the import and export of such items before bidding, securing all necessary licenses and certificates at their expense. The inability to export or import these items, or their seizure by a government agency, does not justify delaying payment or cancelling a sale.

Philippe Missillier Collection no.167C

H. Ricketts and P. Missillier, Splendeur des Armes Orientales, Paris: Acte-Expo, 1988, p.144, no.249

Luxury objects in ivory from Sri Lanka dating from the seventeenth century are rare. Similar carving is found on other ivories of this date from Sri Lanka, including a jewel casket in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inv. no.2022.386). Sri Lankan ivory carving was treasured and collected by European rulers from the sixteenth century onwards including examples from the collection of Katherina von Habsburg (1507-78) now in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna and other collections (Annemarie Jordan Gschwend and Johannes Beltz, Elfenbeine aus Ceylon. Luxusgüter für Katharina von Habsburg (1507-78), Zurich, Museum Rietberg, 2010).

A comparable powder flask was sold in Christie’s, London, 28 April 1998.

An extremely rare illustrated manuscript of the Ka'banameh (A history of the Ka'ba) by Abdulrahman Gubari (d.1566), signed by Ahmad [...] al-Khatib, Kaposvár, Hungary, dated Dhu'l-Hijjah 1080 AH/April-May 1670 AD

Estimate: 120,000 - 180,000 GBP

Ibn al-Shatir (d.1375), Nihayat al-su’al fi tashih al-usul, on astronomy, Egypt or Syria, Mamluk, 14th century

Estimate: 150,000 - 250,000 GBP

A large illuminated Qur'an, Persia, Shiraz, Safavid, 16th century

Estimate: 120,000 - 180,000 GBP

Methods of hunting, India, Mughal, second half 17th century

Estimate: 50,000 - 80,000 GBP

Amiban, William Fraser’s bibi, by a master artist working for William Fraser, from The Fraser Album, India, Haryana, circa 1816

Estimate: 150,000 - 250,000 GBP

A large royal Mughal planispheric brass astrolabe, signed by Diya' al-Din Muhammad al-Lahuri, India, dated 1059 AH/1649 AD

Estimate: 120,000 - 180,000 GBP

A Safavid or Ottoman steel chanfron, Persia or Turkey, first half 16th Century

Estimate: 80,000 - 120,000 GBP

An early Kufic Qur'an leaf, North Africa or Near East, late Umayyad or early Abbasid, circa 700-750 AD

Estimate: 120,000 - 200,000 GBP

A Qur'an bifolium in Kufic script on vellum from the Mushaf Al-Hadinah, The 'Nurse's Qur'an', copied by 'Ali Al-Warraq, Qairawan, North Africa, 410 AH/1020 AD

Estimate: 100,000 - 150,000 GBP

A pair of repoussé gold bracelets, Syria, 11th-12th century

Estimate: 25,000 - 35,000 GBP