Biography
Benedict Carter joined Sotheby’s Middle East Department in 2008, becoming Head of Auction Sales in 2013 and Head of Department in 2020. Since joining Sotheby’s he has worked on a number of highly successful single-owner auctions, including the four-part landmark sales of The Stuart Cary Welch Collection in April and May 2011/October 2023; The Sven Gahlin Collection (2015); The Khosrovani-Diba Collection (2016); The Howard Hodgkin Collection (2017); In an Indian Garden: The Carlton Rochell Collection of Company School Paintings (2021) and most recently The Philippe Missillier Collection of Islamic & Indian Arts & Armour (2025). In 2022 he was key to setting a new world record for any work on paper from the Islamic World with the sale of an illustrated folio from the Shah Tahmasp Shahnameh for £8.1 million.
He has travelled widely in North Africa, the Middle East and India, studying Arabic at both the Universities of Jordan and Alexandria. He continues to travel extensively, sourcing fresh works of art for auction and private sale, while advising museum and private clients across North America, Europe, The Middle East and Asia.
Benedict received his Bachelor’s Honours degree in Theology and Religious Studies from Bristol University (2005), specialising in Islamic studies, and achieved a Master’s degree with distinction in Near and Middle Eastern Studies from The School of Oriental and African Studies, London (2007). He is a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society.
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