PARIS.- On 23rd May, 2017, Artcurial will hold an auction dedicated to Oriental Arts. With more than 160 pieces, the sale will be divided in two parts. The first, dedicated to archaeology, will include an impressive ensemble of classic and Oriental antiquities, including a 5th century Sassanid art silver dish depicting a hunting scene (estimate: €200,000 – 250,000 / $220,000 – 275,000). The second part will be dedicated to Islamic and Indian arts with several Islamic ceramic and bronze collections, and some remarkable Iznik pieces, several manuscripts and a series of Indian miniatures.

« Oriental arts in all their diversity will be represented throughout various periods and expertise: bronze, wood, ceramic or manuscripts. Pre-Islamic civilisations will be honoured in the section dedicated to archaeology. » --Mathilde Neuve-Eglise, specialist Oriental Arts department, Artcurial

Statuette d’Harpocrate in bronze. Egypto-Roman Art, 1st century BC. Estimate: €50,000 – 60,000 / $55,000 – 66,000
This bronze sculpture with black patina represents the naked young god, wearing the childhood lock of hair and the Isiacal crown. He holds in his left hand a cornucopia filled with fruit, placed on a tree trunk.

In the Roman art section, a marble Head of Minerva, dated from the second century (estimate: €40,000 – 50,000 / $44,000 – 55,000). Cycladic Art will be represented by an Anatolian marble idol, "Stargazer", dated from the 3rd millennium B.C. The figure is of Kaliyah type, standing with his legs together and finned arms slightly detached from the body. (estimate: €15,000 – 18,000 / $16,500 – 19,800).

Wood beam with calligraphy inscriptions, Spain or Morocco, Nasride Art, 14th century. Estimate: €12,000 – 15,000 / $13,200 – 16,500
The chapter devoted to Islamic arts will include a remarkable wooden beam engraved with “vegetal” Kufic religious inscriptions amongst curlicue foliage, framed by a braided design.

It is dated from the 14th century.

A beautiful collection of nearly 40 ceramics will then be up for auction. Among them, we note a superb Iznik coated tile dated from the 16th century, decorated with a large central flower motif, surrounded by carnations. (Estimate: €8,000 – $10,000 / 8,800 – 11,000).

Ottoman art will also be represented by a calligraphy Koran by Mohammed Nouri. Dated 1252 A.H/ 1837 A.D, this very beautiful manuscript is finely penned in Naskhi characters separated by a gold rosette. The titles are marked in white in the illuminated gold background of the cartouches (estimate: €5,000 – 6,000 /$5,500 – 6,600).

Jade Hookah base, Moghole India, 19th century. Estimate: €10,000 – 12,000/ $11,000 – 13,200
This boteh shaped receptacle whose base extends into a parakeet head is finely sculpted with scales and a petal corolla.