LONDON.- This October, Christie’s Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds auction will include an extensive range of rare and beautiful works that date from the 9th to the 19th century and cover a geographical area stretching from India in the East to Al-Andalus in modern Spain in the West. The sale comprises several private collections, including: The Collection of Fatema Soudavar Farmanfarmaian, and the collection of Heinrich Jacoby, both of which demonstrate a collector’s lifelong passion for Islamic art. Highlights include a rare 17th century painting by the master artist Reza ‘Abbasi which is a pendant to one in the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (estimate: £100,000 – 150,000), a rare striking complete Iznik cintamani tile (estimate: £30,000 – 50,000), a blue Qur’an page written entirely in gold on blue-stained vellum (estimate: £200,000 – 300,000) and two impressive Florentine paintings of Sultan Mehmed IV’s hunting dogs (estimate: £170,000 – 220,000).

Alongside the Islamic and Indian works of art, the sale offers a rich display of handwoven Oriental rugs and carpets dating as far back as the late 16th century. Amongst the highlights are a group of rare East Turkestan rugs from the collection of the Late Hans König, former director of TEFAF, and a regular contributor to Hali magazine and widely acknowledged as a great collector of Art. The group contains a number of strikingly designed individual square mats which rarely appear on the market and have long been coveted collector’s pieces. Referred to as ‘Happy Squares’ by Hans König, these lots have noteworthy provenance as well as accessible estimates.

Other highlights include a private Dutch collection of small Qajar silk rugs of jewel-like quality, three 16th century ‘Lotto’ rugs from West Anatolia, and a highly unusual and very beautiful silk and metal-thread Koum Kapi rug woven in Istanbul, whose design emulates the richly woven velvets found in the collection of the Sultan’s of the Topkapi Palace.

Christie's also announced that it has partnered with acclaimed textile designer Nathalie Farman-Farma to style a room based around her favourite Islamic objects, oriental rugs and textiles from the sale, on view in Christie's King Street Galleries from 20–24 October. “The auctions of Oriental carpets and Islamic Art at Christies are always inspiring. Every sale is a surprise and a chance to discover objects and textiles of singular beauty from regions that can be hard to reach. Most thrilling is when there is an opportunity to view the efforts of past collectors and groups of items assembled from a particular point of view.” – Nathalie Farman-Farma.