Chinese Works of Art

Beijing to Istanbul: Paintings & Works of Art Online | Articles

By Sotheby's

B eijing to Istanbul: Paintings & Works of Art Online is now open for bidding until Monday, 5 December at 3PM GMT. The auction spans the ancient and fabled trade routes which ran from the Far East through to Europe, offering a fabulous array of works of art from Persia, China and India.

Chinese highlights include the sinuous Song Dynasty ewer and vibrant turquoise Kangxi vase and further ceramic works of art. The Indian section - a charming silver coffee percolator, silvered ‘magic’ bowl and clover leaf box, and a host of splendid Indian miniatures. The beautiful Safavid tiles depicting Shirin spearhead the Persian works.

Rugs & Carpets featured are a torba from Turkmenistan, Persian Heriz carpet and electrifying Caucasian rugs. Anatolian kilims ranging from the 17th to 19th century and both city made and tribal Persian kilims which are highly decorative. Notably included are the beautiful and intricate bridal embroideries from Uzbekistan - one Shakhrisyabz, in particular, is a splendid example.

Further West we include rich and striking contemporary paintings from the Caucasus such Merab Abramishvili’s ‘Flower Gossiper’ and Artashes Abraamyan’s landscapes. The wonderful, oriental inspired, scene by Frederick-Arthur Bridgman represents our European pictures and the sale finishes with a Qur’an script from Andalusia dating to the 13th century.

Furthermore, hidden within the sale, are works in jade from the Mughal Empire, Ottoman daggers and incense burners, and a monumental Syrian or Armenian tray.

Contact Information

Harry Grenfell
Cataloguing Assistant
English Furniture, Rugs and Carpets
+44 20 7293 5556
harry.grenfell@sothebys.com


Related Articles

From Beijing to Istanbul

As humans we do two things with great élan; we love to travel and we love loving beauty. Constitutionally we are nomads and collectors – moving from one place to another we seek out and acquire the unexpected and the exquisite.

Historian and Broadcaster Bettany Hughes’ Highlights

Award-winning historian, author and broadcaster Bettany Hughes' selects eleven of he favourite works from the sale.

A Journey from Beijing to Istanbul in 10 Objects

From textiles, rugs and carpets from the Caucasus, Anatolia and Persia to striking Russian paintings and Indian miniatures, the auction traces the journey from Beijing to Istanbul.

Designer Coco Fennell’s Picks

Designer Coco Fennell, whose womenswear has been worn by the likes of Rihanna, Rita Ora, Lindsay Lohan and Elizabeth Hurley, chooses her picks from the collection.

Designer Charles Clarke Picks His Highlights

Charles Clarke, founder and Head Designer of creative studio Balzar London selects his highlights from the sale.

Trading Stories, Past and Present

John Darlington, from World Monuments Fund Britain, looks at the history of the Silk Road and recounts three extraordinary survivals of trading heritage that have been in the news recently.

Stay informed with Sotheby’s top stories, videos, events & news.

Receive the best from Sotheby’s delivered to your inbox.

By subscribing you are agreeing to Sotheby’s Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe from Sotheby’s emails at any time by clicking the “Manage your Subscriptions” link in any of your emails.

More from Sotheby's