Arts of the Islamic World & India

A set of Qajar gold-overlaid steel armour, Persia, second half 19th century

Estimate

15,000 - 25,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

comprising a helmet, shield and arm guard, each decorated with scrolling arabesques overlaid with gold, borders comprising Persian verses from Firdausi's Shahnameh, the shield and arm guard lined with red textile, the helmet and arm guard with original butted mail, the shield with four applied bosses to the exterior and four suspension loops to the underside

helmet (excluding mail) 27cm. length

shield 41.1cm. diam.

arm guard (excluding mail) 37.7cm. length

Acquired from a private collection, USA, 2007.

A typical armour set produced in nineteenth-century Iran consists of a helmet, shield, and single vambrace. Although such armour was largely obsolete on the battlefield by this time, they continued to be produced to be used in Muharram commemorations (Annabelle Collinet, ‘Performance Objects of Muharram in Iran: A Story through Steel’, Journal of Material Cultures in the Muslim World I, Leiden, Brill, 2020, pp.226-247).

For a comparable set of nineteenth century Qajar armour formerly in the collection of Philippe Missillier which sold recently in these Rooms, see Sotheby's London, 29 October 2025, lot 188. For a silver and gold-overlaid Qajar steel helmet and matching shield in the present sale, see the preceding lot, no.155.

‘Ala’-al-Din Abu’l-Hasan ‘Ali Ibn Abi al-Hazm al-Qarshi, known as Ibn al-Nafis (d.1288-89), Sharh tashrih Qanun Ibn Sina (A commentary on the anatomy in Al-Qanun of Ibn Sina), probably Iraq, Ilkhanid, dated 20 Sha'ban 734 AH/3 May 1334 AD

Estimate: 200,000 - 300,000 GBP

An impressive illuminated Qur'an volume, attributable to Ya'qut al-Musta'simi, probably Baghdad, Iraq, late 13th century

Estimate: 100,000 - 150,000 GBP

A royal sword (saif) dedicated to King Saud ibn Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia (r.1953-64) with scabbard, signed ‘Abd Allah al-Akwa, Yemen, Sanaa, dated AH 1375/1955-56 AD

Estimate: 70,000 - 100,000 GBP

A gold and silver-inlaid brass bowl, Mosul, Jazira, 13th century

Estimate: 40,000 - 60,000 GBP

A walrus ivory-hilted sword with scabbard, 18th century, the mounts Persian, the blade and hilt Ottoman, the blade possibly earlier

Estimate: 60,000 - 80,000 GBP

Two Mamluk carved marble jar stands (kilgas), Egypt, 13th/14th century

Estimate: 20,000 - 30,000 GBP

A large and impressive illuminated Qur'an, Persia, Safavid, 16th century; with Mughal illumination, early 18th century

Estimate: 400,000 - 600,000 GBP

A large Mamluk brass candlestick, made for Sayf al-Din Hatim Dawadar, Egypt, circa 1500

Estimate: 50,000 - 80,000 GBP

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

Estimate: 50,000 - 70,000 GBP

Krishna and Radha lost in admiration, attributed to Chokha, India, Rajasthan, Devgarh, circa 1811-20

Estimate: 60,000 - 80,000 GBP