Shahnameh or Persian Book of Kings (click to enlarge)
An illustrated folio from the Shahnameh or ‘Book of Kings’ established a new record for an Islamic work of art at auction at Sotheby’s on April 6.
Made for Shah Tahmasp of Persia and universally acknowledged as one of the supreme illustrated manuscripts of any period or culture it made £7,433,250. The illustrated leaf was chased by seven bidders and made nearly four times the estimate of £2/3 million.
The Shahnameh is the Persian national epic. The illustrated leaf in ink, opaque watercolour and gold on paper depicts Faridun in the guise of a dragon testing his sons. It was completed at the royal Safavid atelier circa 1525-1535. It was from the Stuart Cary Welch collection.
Edward Gibbs, Senior Director and Head of Sotheby’s Middle East Department, said: “The sale of the Shahnameh leaf today represented a rare opportunity for collectors and connoisseurs of Islamic Art and bidders from across the globe competed tenaciously to acquire this unique work of extraordinary quality and beauty. The sum achieved of £7.4 million for the folio represents a new auction record for an Islamic Work of Art and is testament to the passion and taste of the true scholar-connoisseur, Stuart Cary Welch, who assembled this remarkable collection.”