Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds including Rugs and Carpets

Christie’s sale of Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds including Rugs and Carpets will present an exceptional selection of objects, works on paper, jewellery, rugs and carpets celebrating more than a millennium of artistic achievement. Taking place live in London on 12 November, the auction showcases creativity and craftsmanship of cultures stretching from Spain and North Africa to India and Central Asia.

Highlights include an important 13th-century Ayyubid carved wooden panel and a rare Mamluk mosque lamp from the complex of Sultan Hasan. From India is an important group of folios from the Mughal Zafarnama of Akbar and fine jewellery from the collection of the American heiress, adventurer and collector Adeline Pepper Gibson. A further highlight is an exceptional large painting by the Sikh artist Bishan Singh. We are also delighted to be offering a second group of significant arms and armour from the Collection of Howard Ricketts.

The superb selection of rugs and carpets is led by two important Classical 18th century examples of the village weaving tradition in the Caucasus. The first is a rare Caucasian ‘Dragon’ carpet from the late 17th/early 18th century which comes to the market for the first time in over 40 years. The second is a stunning south Caucasian Karabagh carpet from a noble European collection which was last exhibited in 1999. Further highlights include a beautiful Indian Agra carpet from the collection of the esteemed American collector Mary Griggs Burke, woven during India’s carpet weaving renaissance in the early 19th century . The labour intensive process of Sericulture and silk weaving is further highlighted with exceptional examples from across the Silk Road including an Ottoman silk Koum Kapi prayer rug, silk weavings from the oases towns in the Tarim Basin, to an impressive group of luxurious Persian Qajar silk palace carpets from an important private collector.