ISTANBUL.- The leading auction house of Turkey, Antik A.S. continues to have record breaking results. In the recent sale, Antik A.S. breaks its own record for the highest amount paid for a Contemporary Turkish work of art; Erol Akyavaş’s monumental “Kabe” painting sold for 1.3 Million Euro with premium and taxes. The record-breaking work will be exhibited in Istanbul Modern Museum during the Akyavas’s “Grand Retrospective” starting at the end of May 2013. Right after selling an Osman Hamdi Bey’s “A Girl arranging Vase of Flowers” painting for a record price of 1.4 million Euros, Antik A.S. now, announces the 277th auction of Classical and Ottoman Art sale in Istanbul which will take place on Sunday 14 April 2013. The sale will bring together and offer an important selection of works of art from the Turkish Artists including impressive works of Sami Yetik, Hikmet Onat, İbrahim Çallı, Şevket Dağ and İzzet Ziya. Ottoman Silverware and glass works are also some of the items that will be offered at the sale.

One of the highlights being offered in the sale is a spectacular still life painting by Sami Yetik, one of the most important Turkish artists, the painting will have a 500,000 USD starting price. The other highlights of the sale is Hikmet Onat’s “Istanbul” scenes, Halid Naci’s “Golden Horn”. Fausto Zonaro, Otto Pilny and Bachmann works will also be in the sale on 14th of April. Turgay Artam, auctioneer of the sale, says “the sale is giving buyers an opportunity to own high quality works. The top lot Sami Yetik’s “Still life” is an extraordinary painting which has never been in the market before. Not only being a monumental size from the artist’s most popular 1920’s period, it is also in a perfect condition” Artam also invites all those who appreciate quality art to view the display before the sale.

Important part of the auction will cover exceptional works of Turkish calligraphy. Calligraphists like Yahya Hilmi, Hasan Rıza, Kazasker Mustafa İzzet, Mehmed Aziz Rufai, and Hamid Aytaç’s works will be on the sale 14th of April sale. Antik A.S. Chairman of the board, Turgay Artam is organizing the auction which will be held at the Antik A.S.’s main building Antik Palace. Antik A.S. is also known as holding all the major auction records for Turkish art market. Worldwide 7 out of 10 most expensive Turkish art works have been sold at the Antik A.S.‘ salerooms, the other 2 in Sotheby’s and 1 in Bonhams. Antik A.S. is also the leading auction house for Modern & Contemporary Turkish Art by revenue, records and totals. Several records were set in 2009 – 2012 period including Erol Akyavaş’s “I am the Truth” and Burhan Doğançay’a “Symphony in Blue” both were sold for the same amount of 1.26 million Euro. In 2013 Erol Akyavaş’s “Kabe” painting sold for 1.3 million Euro and became the most expensive Modern & Contemporary Turkish Art. Founded in 1981 by Nurcan and Turgay Artam, Antik A.Ş. was the first fully professional auction house established in Turkey. Antik A.S. organized the first Antiques Fair in the country and conducted great sales during the last 30 years and today remains as the leader Auction House in Turkish Art Market. Antik A.S. has recent annual turnovers of 35 to 45,000,000 USD. 5 to 7 major auctions in a year. A special catalogue has been prepared for the collection including Ottoman arts 19th century European Art and furniture, which will be on displayed at the Antik A.S. main building, Istanbul.

The works can be viewed until the 14th of April 2013 at Antik A.Ş. A catalogue may be requested or you can visit the website www.antikas.com to view an online catalogue.