• Auction 24986

    Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art: Online

    2 June 2026 - 16 June 2026, London
  • Auction overview

    Celebrating 20 years since Christie’s inaugural Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art auction, this season’s online sale in London highlights the richness of artistic production from the Gulf, alongside iconic works by modern masters and contemporary artists from the Levant, Iraq, Iran and North Africa.

    Rare examples by leading modern masters include Untitled by Abdulhalim Radwi, from the artist’s estate and exhibited in Marbella in 2002, where it was admired by His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Other highlights include 64 Quadrattini by Mohamed Melehi, an early exploration of geometry and the square motif; a striking 1970s canvas by Saliba Douaihy from a pivotal transitional period in the artist’s oeuvre; and Parviz Tanavoli’s exceptional bronze Freedom and Poet (1970), exhibited at New York University’s Grey Art Gallery & Study Center in the mid‑1970s.

    The sale also presents a rediscovered group of works from the Mantoura family collection, originally shown in the 1976 exhibition Tattershall Castle Yacht in London, paying tribute to Palestine’s rich cultural heritage.

    Strong female representation is led by River Rapids (2021) by Samia Halaby, alongside important explorations of abstraction by Lebanese modernists including Etel Adnan, Huguette Caland, Helen Khal and Nadia Saikali. The auction further features pioneering Egyptian modernists, including The Mountain and the Desert (1966) by Gazbia Sirry, and a striking portrait by Inji Efflatoun.

    The Gulf Now section traces contemporary artistic practice across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with works by Mohammed Kazem, Ahmed Mater and Bouthayna Al Muftah.

    Spanning generations and geographies, the auction reflects the depth, innovation and global resonance of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art. Highlights from the sale will be on view at Christie’s London from 27 May to 11 June.

  • Auction information
    • Auction
      • Online
        2 Jun, 3pm (Lots 1 - 62)
    • VIEWING
      • Online
        28 May, 9am - 5pm
        29 May, 9am - 5pm
        31 May, 12pm - 5pm
        1 Jun, 9am - 5pm
        2 Jun, 9am - 5pm
        3 Jun, 9am - 5pm
        4 Jun, 9am - 5pm
        5 Jun, 9am - 4pm
        6 Jun, 12pm - 5pm
        7 Jun, 12pm - 5pm
        8 Jun, 9am - 5pm
        9 Jun, 9am - 5pm
        10 Jun, 9am - 5pm
        11 Jun, 9am - 5pm
  • Contact the department
    • Head of Sale, Specialist, Post-War & Contemporary Art London/Dubai
      Marie-Claire Thijsen
      mcthijsen@christies.com
      Tel: +44 (0) 79 9083 1918
    • Cataloguer
      Kanon Ida
      kida@christies.com
      Tel: +44 (0)7760843621
    • Sale Coordinator
      Lara Abu Dahab
      LAbuDahab@christies.com
      Tel: +44 (0) 744 213 2162
62 Lots for Sale 24986
Lot 1
SAMIA HALABY (B. 1936, JERUSALEM)
River Rapids
acrylic on canvas
41 x 41in. (104.1 x 104.1cm.)
estimate
£80,000 - £120,000
($107,440 - $161,160)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 2
SALIBA DOUAIHY (1915, EHDEN - 1994, NEW YORK)
Untitled (Wadi Qannoubine series)
oil on canvas
35 x 23 1/8in. (88.9 x 58.6cm.)
estimate
£50,000 - £70,000
($67,150 - $94,010)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 3
ETEL ADNAN (1925, BEIRUT - 2021, PARIS)
Untitled
oil on canvas
16 x 19 7/8in. (40.5 x 50.5cm.)
estimate
£80,000 - £120,000
($107,440 - $161,160)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 4
MOHAMED MELEHI (1936, ASILAH – 2020, BOULOGNE-BILLANCOURT)
64 Quadrattini (64 Little Squares)
oil on canvas
101.8 x 36 1/8in. (101.8 x 91.8cm.)
estimate
£70,000 - £100,000
($94,010 - $134,300)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 5
ABDUL HALIM RADWI (1939, MECCA - 2006, JEDDAH)
Untitled
oil on canvas
39 x 28 1/8in. (99.1 x 71.5cm.)
estimate
£70,000 - £100,000
($94,010 - $134,300)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 6
CHARLES-HOSSEIN ZENDEROUDI (B. 1937, TEHRAN)
YEK + HASS
acrylic on canvas
39 3/8 x 32in. (100 x 81.2cm.)
estimate
£35,000 - £55,000
($47,005 - $73,865)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 7
SOHRAB SEPEHRI (1928, KASHAN - 1980, TEHRAN)
Untitled
oil on canvas
39 x 27 ½in. (99.1 x 70cm.)
estimate
£60,000 - £80,000
($80,580 - $107,440)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 8
MASSOUD ARABSHAHI (1935, TEHRAN - 2019, TEHRAN)
Untitled
oil on canvas
47 ¼ x 43 ¼in. (120 x 110cm.)
estimate
£30,000 - £50,000
($40,080 - $66,800)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 9
PARVIZ TANAVOLI (B. 1937, TEHRAN)
Freedom and Poet
bronze on stone base
bronze: 12 ½ x 7 ½ x 3 ½in. (31.7 x 19 x 8.8cm.)
base: 4 x 7 ½ x 3 ½in. (10.2 x 19 x 8.8cm.)
estimate
£70,000 - £100,000
($94,010 - $134,300)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 10
DIA AL-AZZAWI (B. 1939, BAGHDAD)
Untitled
oil on canvas
39 3/8 x 31 5/8in. (100 x 80.2cm.)
estimate
£40,000 - £60,000
($53,440 - $80,160)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 11
FAEQ HASSAN (1914, BAGHDAD - 1992, PARIS)
Untitled
oil on panel
21 3/8 x 27 ¾in. (54.4 x 70.4cm.)
estimate
£30,000 - £50,000
($40,290 - $67,150)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 12
HAFIDH AL-DROUBI (1914, BAGHDAD - 1991, BAGHDAD)
Abstract No. 10
oil on panel
50 ¾ x 38 7/8in. (129 x 98.6cm.)
estimate
£25,000 - £35,000
($33,400 - $46,760)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 13
JEWAD SELIM (1919, BAGHDAD - 1961, BAGHDAD)
Portrait of Lorna
graphite on paper
10 5/8 x 8 3/8in. (27 x 21.3cm.)
estimate
£7,000 - £10,000
($9,352 - $13,360)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 14
JEWAD SELIM (1919, BAGHDAD - 1961, BAGHDAD)
Self-Portrait
ballpoint pen on paper
5 ¾ x 8 5/8in. (14.6 x 22cm.)
estimate
£10,000 - £15,000
($13,360 - $20,040)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 15
MARWAN (1934, DAMASCUS - 2016, BERLIN)
Kopf (Head)
gouache on paper
39 3/8 x 27 ¾in. (100 x 70.5cm.)
estimate
£20,000 - £30,000
($26,860 - $40,290)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 16
NASSER CHAURA (1920, DAMASCUS - 1992, DAMASCUS)
Untitled
oil on canvas
30 3/8 x 23 3/8in. (77.2 x 59.5cm.)
estimate
£8,000 - £12,000
($10,688 - $16,032)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 17
AHMED MATER (B. 1979, TABUK)
Illumination XIX & XX
gold leaf, tea, pomegranate, ink and offset X-ray film print on archival Arche paper, in two parts
each: 60 x 40 3/8in. (152.5 x 102.5cm.)(2)
estimate
£40,000 - £60,000
($53,720 - $80,580)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 18
HAYV KAHRAMAN (B. 1981, BAGHDAD)
Barricade 1
oil and metallic paint on linen
50 x 78 1/8in. (127.1 x 198.3cm.)
estimate
£30,000 - £50,000
($40,290 - $67,150)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 19
MAHMOUD SAÏD (1897, ALEXANDRIA - 1964, ALEXANDRIA)
Laveuses (Washers)
oil on panel
7 1/8 x 9 ½in. (18 x 24.2cm.)
estimate
£15,000 - £20,000
($20,040 - $26,720)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 20
MAHMOUD MOKHTAR (1891, TANBARA - 1934, CAIRO)
Ala Shat El Nil (Au Bord du Nil/On the Banks of the Nile)
bronze
33 ½ x 7 7/8 x 6 7/8in. (85.2 x 20 x 17.5cm.)
estimate
£30,000 - £40,000
($40,080 - $53,440)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 21
OMAR EL NAGDI (1931, CAIRO - 2019, CAIRO)
Musicista (Musician)
mixed media on panel
51 1/8 x 35 3/8in. (130 x 90cm.)
estimate
£40,000 - £60,000
($53,720 - $80,580)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 22
GAZBIA SIRRY (1925, CAIRO - 2021, CAIRO)
The Mountain and the Desert
oil on canvas
21 2/3 x 39 3/8in. (55 x 99cm.)
estimate
£50,000 - £70,000
($67,150 - $94,010)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 23
ADAM HENEIN (1929, CAIRO - 2020, CAIRO)
Hibou (Owl)
bronze
8 7/8 x 7 ¾ x 6 7/8in. (22.5 x 19.5 x 17.5cm.)
estimate
£10,000 - £15,000
($13,430 - $20,145)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 24
OMAR EL NAGDI (1931, CAIRO - 2019, CAIRO)
El Kaaba Elsharifa
oil on canvas
29 ½ x 29 1/8in. (75 x 74cm.)
estimate
£40,000 - £60,000
($53,720 - $80,580)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 25
SALEH REDA (1932, CAIRO - 2018, CAIRO)
Islamic Themes
oil on paper
31 ½ x 21 7/8in. (80 x 55.7cm.)
estimate
£2,000 - £3,000
($2,672 - $4,008)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 26
HEDI TURKI (1922, TUNIS - 2019, SIDI BOU SAÏD)
Paysage (Landscape)
oil on panel
32 x 24in. (81.4 x 61cm.)
estimate
£8,000 - £12,000
($10,688 - $16,032)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 27
BAYA (1931, BORDJ EL KIFFAN - 1998, BLIDA)
Untitled
gouache on paper
39 1/8 x 39 1/8in. (99.3 x 99.5cm.)
estimate
£25,000 - £35,000
($33,575 - $47,005)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 28
JULIANA SERAPHIM (1934, JAFFA - 2005, BEIRUT)
Untitled
oil on canvas
35 3/8 x 27 ½in. (90 x 70cm.)
estimate
£20,000 - £30,000
($26,860 - $40,290)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 29
INJI EFFLATOUN (1924, CAIRO - 1989, CAIRO)
Untitled
oil on canvas board
22 ½ x 16 ½in. (57 x 42cm.)
estimate
£20,000 - £30,000
($26,860 - $40,290)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 30
AMMAR FARHAT (1911, BÉJA - 1987, TUNIS)
Jeunes Femmes (Young Women)
oil on canvas
28 ½ x 21in. (72.5 x 53.2cm.)
estimate
£30,000 - £50,000
($40,080 - $66,800)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 31
LAILA SHAWA (1940, GAZA - 2022, LONDON)
Jerusalem
oil and silver paint on canvas mounted on panel, in artist's frame
22 ½ x 26 3/8in. (57 x 67cm.)
estimate
£25,000 - £35,000
($33,400 - $46,760)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 32
SLIMAN MANSOUR (B. 1947, BIRZEIT)
Untitled
oil on panel
18 ½ x 19 ¾in. (47 x 50cm.)
estimate
£10,000 - £15,000
($13,430 - $20,145)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 33
SLIMAN MANSOUR (B. 1947, BIRZEIT)
Crucified
oil on canvas
32 x 28 7/8in. (81.2 x 73.2cm.)
estimate
£20,000 - £30,000
($26,860 - $40,290)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 34
NABIL ANANI (B. 1943, LATROUN)
Mother “Tell me about Palestine”
oil and metallic paint on canvas
28 7/8 x 27 3/8in. (59.4 x 69.4cm.)
estimate
£15,000 - £20,000
($20,145 - $26,860)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 35
VERA TAMARI (B. 1945, JERUSALEM)
Togetherness
glazed terracotta
12 ¾ x 6 7/8 x 5 ½in. (32.5 x 17.6 x 14cm.)
estimate
£3,000 - £5,000
($4,029 - $6,715)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 36
SAMIA TAKTAK ZARU (1938, NABLUS - 2026, AMMAN)
Untitled
acrylic paint, embroidery and beads on fabric
23 ¾ x 72in. (60.2 x 182.8cm.)
estimate
£7,000 - £10,000
($9,401 - $13,430)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 37
ABDULRAHMAN KATANANI (B. 1983, BEIRUT)
Kids Waiting in Line
spray paint on corrugated metal
55 7/8 x 98 3/8in. (142 x 250cm.)
estimate
£30,000 - £40,000
($40,290 - $53,720)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 38
PAUL GUIRAGOSSIAN (1926, JERUSALEM - 1993, BEIRUT)
Confidence
oil on canvas
39 3/8 x 27 ½in. (100 x 70cm.)
estimate
£30,000 - £50,000
($40,080 - $66,800)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 39
SHAFIC ABBOUD (1926, BIKFAYA - 2004, PARIS)
Arbres (Trees)
oil on paper laid on canvas
36 3/8 x 28 ¾in. (92.3 x 73.1cm.)
estimate
£25,000 - £35,000
($33,400 - $46,760)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 40
NADIA SAIKALI (B. 1936, BEIRUT)
Sables (Sands)
oil on canvas
28 ¾ x 45 ¾in. (73.1 x 116.2cm.)
estimate
£12,000 - £18,000
($16,116 - $24,174)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 41
HELEN KHAL (1923, ALLENTOWN - 2009, AJALTOUN)
Untitled
oil on masonite
10 ½ x 16 ¾in. (26.6 x 42.5cm.)
estimate
£12,000 - £18,000
($16,116 - $24,174)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 42
FAHRELNISSA ZEID (1901, BÜYÜKADA - 1991, AMMAN)
Abstract
oil on canvas
23 5/8 x 19 ¾in. (60 x 50cm.)
estimate
£40,000 - £60,000
($53,720 - $80,580)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 43
FAHRELNISSA ZEID (1901, BÜYÜKADA - 1991, AMMAN)
Untitled
oil on canvas
22 x 29 7/8in. (56 x 76cm.)
estimate
£40,000 - £60,000
($53,720 - $80,580)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 44
HUGUETTE CALAND (1931, BEIRUT – 2019, BEIRUT)
Untitled (from Faces and Places II series)
acrylic and metallic paint on panel
5 x 5in. (12.7 x 12.6cm.)
estimate
£3,000 - £5,000
($4,008 - $6,680)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 45
SALOUA RAOUDA CHOUCAIR (1916, BEIRUT - 2017, BEIRUT)
Ring and Brooch
silver
Ring: Eu ring size 54 / US ring size 6 ¾
Brooch: 5 ¾ x 3/4in. (14.5 x 1.8cm.)
gross weight: 28.10 grams(2)
estimate
£3,000 - £5,000
($4,008 - $6,680)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 46
ALI CHERRI (B. 1976, BEIRUT)
Heroes: The Rise and Fall
chrome-plated brass and granite
21 ¾ x 9 1/8 x 4 7/8in. (55.3 x 23.3 x 12.5cm.)
estimate
£8,000 - £12,000
($10,688 - $16,032)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 47
AYMAN BAALBAKI (B. 1975, ODAISSEH)
Concrete Beirut Barrier
acrylic on fabric laid on canvas, in artist’s frame
40 7/8 x 56 7/8in. (103.8 x 144.5cm.)
estimate
£25,000 - £35,000
($33,400 - $46,760)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 48
JAMIL MOLAEB (B. 1948, BAISSOUR)
Jerusalem
oil on canvas
35 ¼ x 47 1/8in. (89.6 x 119.6cm.)
estimate
£6,000 - £8,000
($8,016 - $10,688)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 49
WILLY ARACTINGI (1930, NEW YORK - 2003, BARCELONA)
Untitled
oil on canvas
45 x 57 ½in. (114.3 x 146cm.)
estimate
£10,000 - £15,000
($13,360 - $20,040)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 50
SHAIKHA AL MAZROU (B. 1988, DUBAI)
Ironic Experiments I
black stoneware on white painted metal base
stoneware: 23 5/8 x 15 x 24 5/8in. (60 x 38 x 62.5cm.)
base: 34 5/8 x 15 ¾ x 15 ¾in. (88 x 40 x 40cm.)
estimate
£6,000 - £8,000
($8,016 - $10,688)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 51
EBTISAM ABDULAZIZ (B. 1975, SHARJAH)
Untitled (2), 2024
acrylic on canvas
43 ¼ x 54 5/8in. (109.7 x 138.6cm.)
estimate
£8,000 - £12,000
($10,688 - $16,032)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 52
MOHAMMED KAZEM (B. 1969, DUBAI)
Acrylic on Scratched Paper (Gold)
acrylic on scratched paper
38 3/8 x 27in. (97.5 x 68.7cm.)
estimate
£20,000 - £30,000
($26,720 - $40,080)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 53
MUBARAK NASSER AL-THANI (B. 1989, DOHA)
City on the Hill
acrylic on canvas
36 x 35 7/8in. (91.3 x 91cm.)
estimate
£3,500 - £4,500
($4,676 - $6,012)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 54
MARYAM AL HOMAID (B. 1988, DOHA)
Qutaifan Island
hand-woven textile
87 ¾ x 61in. (223 x 155cm.)
estimate
£4,000 - £6,000
($5,344 - $8,016)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 55
BOUTHAYNA AL MUFTAH (B. 1987, DOHA)
Fataraat (Phases)
acrylic, graphite, styrofoam and paper on canvas
47 ¼ x 47 ¼in. (120 x 120cm.)
estimate
£8,000 - £12,000
($10,688 - $16,032)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 56
MANAL AL DOWAYAN (B. 1973, DHAHRAN)
Emerging 6
acrylic on natural linen
59 x 59in. (150 x 150cm.)
estimate
£15,000 - £20,000
($20,040 - $26,720)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 57
MANAL AL DOWAYAN (B. 1973, DHAHRAN)
The Emerging (2 legs)
jesmonite
i) 13 ¾ x 9 ¼ x 6 ½in. (35 x 23.6 x 16.4cm.)
ii) 9 1/8 x 13 7/8 x 6 ¾in. (23.2 x 35.1 x 17.1cm.)(2)
estimate
£8,000 - £12,000
($10,744 - $16,116)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 58
ABDULNASSER GHAREM (B. 1973, KHAMIS MUSHAIT)
Al Siraat (The Path)
silk screen print on somerset tub paper
50 5/8 x 70 7/8in. (128.5 x 180cm.)
estimate
£2,000 - £3,000
($2,672 - $4,008)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 59
AHMED MATER (B. 1979, TABUK)
Magnetism I – IV
hand-printed photogravure, in four parts
each sheet: 24 3/8 x 31 7/8in. (62 x 81cm.)(4)
estimate
£8,000 - £12,000
($10,744 - $16,116)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 60
DANA AWARTANI (B. 1987, JEDDAH)
Thaminya (Eight)
gouache, gold paint and ink on paper
7 1/8 x 7 1/8in. (18 x 18cm.)
estimate
£1,500 - £2,500
($2,014 - $3,357)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 61
SARA ABDU (B. 1993, JEDDAH)
(i) Scream Your Sadness (ii) How come the Baby grows up to Be an old...
dry ink on paper
(i) 16 x 12 3/8in. (40.6 x 31.5cm.)
(ii) 11 ¾ x 8 ¼in. (29.7 x 21cm.)(2)
estimate
£1,000 - £2,000
($1,336 - $2,672)

PRICE REALIZED
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Lot 62
BOUSHRA ALMUTAWAKEL (B. 1969, SANA'A)
Mother, Daughter, Doll
each: chromogenic print in artist's frame, in nine parts
each: 24 ¼ x 16 ¼in. (61.7 x 41.8cm.)(9)
estimate
£5,000 - £7,000
($6,680 - $9,352)

PRICE REALIZED
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