ARTISTS
Sotheby鈥檚 Doha Auction 鈥楬urouf: The Art of the Word鈥� Realizes the Above High Estimate Total Of $5.6 Million
This evening at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Doha, Sotheby鈥檚 鈥楬urouf: The Art of the Word鈥� Sale, the first-ever international auction entirely devoted to calligraphy
黑料不打烊
16 Dec, 2010
- Auction led by Ahmed Moustafa鈥檚 The Night Journey and聽
Ascension with the Record Price of $842,500 -
- New Records at Auction established for 9 Artists -聽
- 32% of Buyers new to Sotheby鈥檚 -聽
-International Bidding, with Buyers from the Middle East, India,聽
Turkey, Europe and North America -聽
DOHA, QATAR, THURSDAY, 16 DECEMBER, 2010 --- This evening at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in 聽Doha, Sotheby鈥檚 鈥楬urouf: The Art of the Word鈥� Sale, 聽the first-ever international auction entirely 聽devoted to calligraphy, realized the outstanding total of $5,630,125 (QAR 20,500,765), in excess of the聽pre-sale high estimate of $5.5 million. Tonight鈥檚 sale established sell through rates of 72.5% by lot and 聽87.6% by value, and set 9 new records for artists at auction and benchmarks for 21 artists whose works 聽have never before been offered in an international sale. 32% of the buyers were new to Sotheby鈥檚.
Following the auction, Robin Woodhead, Chairman Sotheby鈥檚 International, commented: 聽鈥淭his evening鈥檚 sale concludes a remarkable week in Qatar. The concept of this calligraphic auction was exceptionally well received when we announced the sale in June, and the momentum and enthusiasm generated grew as we聽exhibited highlights in London, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain with further events held in Beirut, Cairo and Kuwait,聽leading up to our pre-sale exhibition in Doha and culminating in this evening鈥檚 auction.鈥澛燱oodhead continued: 鈥淭his past week we witnessed hundreds of visitors attend our private previews, public聽views, lectures and student tours, which concluded with our auction this evening. The lively saleroom was聽packed with almost 150 clients, who competed on both higher and lower value works. These results further indicate the cultural dynamism of Qatar, and its pivotal position in the rapidly expanding art scene of the聽MENA region.鈥澛�
Discussing the results, Dalya Islam, Deputy Director of Sotheby鈥檚 Middle East Department and Head聽of Sale, said: 鈥淲e are delighted with the results of tonight鈥檚 sale which established 9 new records for artists at聽auction including Ahmed Moustafa, Khaled Ben Slimane and Mounir Fatmi, and benchmark prices for 21聽artists new to auction. The success of the auction is 聽testament to the ambitious vision, range and scope of 聽the聽works on offer leading to exceptionally strong prices for work in all categories, periods and media. The depth of聽bidding and buying was truly international, further reinforcing Doha鈥檚 status as a cultural hub for the region. A聽remarkable 32 % of buyers were entirely new to Sotheby鈥檚.鈥�
Modern and Contemporary Auction Highlights:
- The top-selling work of this evening鈥檚 first-ever auction devoted to the theme of calligraphic art聽was Egyptian artist Ahmed Moustafa鈥檚 2010 oil and watercolour on paper The Night Journey and聽Ascension. 聽This work, measuring 240 by 148.5cm, realised the strong sum of $842,500 / QAR聽3,067,764 (Est: $700,000-900,000), representing a new record for the artist at auction.聽
- No fewer than five bidders competed for Farhad Moshiri鈥檚 2005 mixed media on canvas, 095TTV,聽and after five minutes of intense bidding the painting brought the outstanding price of $782,500 /聽QAR 2,849,288, over seven times pre-sale expectations (Est: $100,000-150,000).
- Untitled, a 1962 oil on canvas by Mohammad Ehsai sold above 聽the high estimate of $350,000 for聽$554,500 / QAR 2,019,080, and Rachid Kora茂chi鈥檚 bronze Ahmed Ezaatar, brought $182,500/ QAR聽664,530, against a low estimate of $180,000.
Top-Selling Early Islamic Works of Art:
- Highlighting the works from the traditional section of the sale was an important external curtain聽of the Holy Ka'ba door with the Tughra of the Ottoman Sultan Abd眉lmejid, Turkey, 18th century, 聽which sold for $362,500 / QAR 1,319,958, above pre-sale expectations (Est: $200,000-300,000).
- A Concertina Form Asma Al-Husna,copied by Muhammad Bahir Bey, Ottoman Turkey, 1276聽AH/1859AD, also performed very well, selling for $104,500 / QAR 380,512, above the top estimate 聽(Est: $50,000-70,000), to a private Turkish buyer.
New Record for the Artist at Auction:
LOT 19 聽
SADEGH TABRIZI聽
B. 1939聽
鲍狈罢滨罢尝贰顿听
蝉颈驳苍别诲听
oil and gold leaf on canvas in artist's frame聽
Estimate: 20,000鈥�30,000 USD聽
Sold for 28,750 USD聽
Previous record 27,946 USD聽
LOT 25 聽
KHALED BEN SLIMANE聽
B. 1951聽
ASCENSION VIII聽
acrylic on canvas聽
Estimate: 80,000鈥�120,000 USD聽
Sold for 92,500 USD聽
Previous record 43,000 USD聽
LOT 31 聽
LULWAH AL-HOMOUD聽
B. 1967聽
ALLAH (FROM THE LANGUAGE OF EXISTENCE SERIES)聽
signed, titled, dated 2008 and numbered 5/20聽
silkscreen on paper聽
Estimate: 1,500鈥�2,500 USD聽
Sold for 8,125 USD聽
Previous record 1,875 USD聽
LOT 32 聽
KATAYOUN ROUHI聽
B. 1965聽
UT POESIS PICTURA (AS IS PAINTING, SO IS POETRY)聽
signed and dated 89 AP/2010 AD; signed and dated 2010 on the reverse聽
oil and paper collage on canvas聽
Estimate: 5,000鈥�7,000 USD聽
Sold for 22,500 USD聽
Previous record 5,932 USD聽
LOT 33 聽
MOHAMED EL BAZ聽
B. 1967聽
THE CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS聽
photograph, neon, wood and glass in artist's frame, in three parts聽
Estimate: 18,000鈥�22,000 USD聽
Sold for 28,750 USD聽
Previous record 23,321 USD聽
LOT 34 聽
MOUNIR FATMI聽
B. 1970聽
T脢TE DURE聽
signed, titled, dated 2006 twice, numbered 1/1 and inscribed Est-ce qu'il se ne ressamblant? / Ceux qui savent ou聽
ceux qui ne savent pas? on the reverse聽
acrylic and gold paint on canvas聽
Estimate: 50,000鈥�70,000 USD聽
Sold for 134,500 USD聽
Previous record 91,476 USD聽
LOT 53 聽
FATHI HASSAN聽
B. 1957聽
HARAM ALEIKUM (SHAME ON YOU)聽
signed, titled and dated 2010 twice on the reverse聽
mixed media on board in Plexiglas frame聽
Estimate: 4,000鈥�6,000 USD聽
Sold for 5,000 USD聽
Previous record 4,946 USD聽
LOT 70 聽
AHMED MOUSTAFA聽
B. 1943聽
THE NIGHT JOURNEY AND ASCENSION聽
Each: signed and dated 1429-31 AH/2008-10 AD twice聽
oil and watercolour on 638gsm cotton paper mounted on canvas, in two parts聽
Estimate: 700,000鈥�900,000 USD聽
Sold for 842,500 USD聽
Previous record 662,500 USD聽
LOT 72 聽
ALI ADJALLI聽
B. 1939聽
鲍狈罢滨罢尝贰顿听
signed and dated 1424/1382 AH/AP/2003 AD four times聽
acrylic on canvas聽
Estimate: 15,000鈥�20,000 USD聽
Sold for 18,750 USD聽
Previous record 15,860 USD聽
Benchmarks set for artists new to auction:
LOT 14 聽
HOUMAM AL SAYED聽
B. 1981聽
颁础尝尝滨骋搁础笔贬驰听
蝉颈驳苍别诲听
mixed media on canvas聽
Estimate: 3,000鈥�4,000 USD聽
Sold for 10,000 USD聽
LOT 16 聽
OMAR BILBEISI聽
B. 1976聽
鲍狈罢滨罢尝贰顿听
signed and dated 2010聽
acrylic on canvas聽
Estimate: 3,000鈥�5,000 USD聽
Sold for 10,000 USD聽
LOT 22 聽
PROF. FUAD KOUICHI HONDA聽
B. 1946聽
THE GREEN COSMOS聽
ink, gouache and pen on paper聽
Estimate: 20,000鈥�30,000 USD聽
Sold for 50,000 USD聽
LOT 27 聽
GURKAN PEHLIVAN聽
B. 1970聽
TAWAKALTU ALA ALLAH (I PLACE MY TRUST IN GOD)聽
signed and dated 1431 AH/2010 AD聽
ink on paper聽
Estimate: 20,000鈥�30,000 USD聽
Sold for 25,000 USD聽
LOT 29 聽
ZOULIKHA BOUABDELLAH聽
B. 1977聽
HOBB (LOVE)聽
补濒耻尘颈苍颈耻尘听
Estimate: 6,000鈥�8,000 USD聽
Sold for 9,375 USD聽
LOT 35 聽
HAJI NOOR DEEN MI GUANG JIANG聽
B. 1963聽
KHARIYTAH AL-'ALAM (THE MAP OF THE WORLD)聽
signed, stamped with the artist's seal, titled and dated 1341 AH/2010 AD twice聽
ink and watercolour on paper mounted on canvas聽
Estimate: 30,000鈥�50,000 USD聽
Sold for 92,500 USD聽
LOT 36 聽
MOHAMMED AL SHAMMAREY聽
B. 1962聽
SHRINE (MAQAM)聽
signed twice, titled and dated 2010 聽
giclee print and acrylic on canvas聽
Estimate: 4,000鈥�6,000 USD聽
Sold for 8,750 USD聽
LOT 38 聽
BITA GHEZELAYAGH聽
B. 1966聽
FELT MEMORIES - ARE BULLETS THE ANSWER TO FLOWERS聽
metal and embroidery on felt in Plexiglas box聽
Estimate: 5,000鈥�7,000 USD聽
Sold for 6,250 USD聽
LOT 39 聽
HASSAN MEER聽
B. 1972聽
HOUSE II聽
辫丑辞迟辞驳谤补辫丑听
Estimate: 6,000鈥�8,000 USD聽
Sold for 7,500 USD聽
LOT 43 聽
狈鲍搁闯础狈听
B. 1987聽
ALLAH TEARDROP聽
Swarowski crystals on slate聽
Estimate: 1,500鈥�2,500 USD聽
Sold for 5,625 USD聽
LOT 46 聽
GEORGE LEWIS聽
B. 1974聽
BINT AL BASEERA (THE LADY WITH INSIGHT) 聽
signed and dated 2010 on the reverse聽
gouache and acrylic on paper聽
Estimate: 5,000鈥�7,000 USD聽
Sold for 6,250 USD
LOT 48 聽
HAMZA BOUNOUA聽
B. 1979聽
FIGURES IN LETTERS聽
signed; signed, titled and dated 2010 on the backing board聽
ink and acrylic reverse-painting on Plexiglas聽
Estimate: 5,000鈥�7,000 USD聽
Sold for 10,625 USD聽
LOT 51 聽
SALWA ZEIDAN聽
础尝尝础贬听
Each: signed, titled, dated 2007 and numbered consecutively No. 1-6 on the reverse聽
acrylic on canvas, in six parts聽
Estimate: 7,000鈥�10,000 USD聽
Sold for 11,250 USD聽
LOT 52 聽
MOUMTAZ KIOMO聽
LAHDHATOU CHAGHAF (A MOMENT OF PASSION)聽
signed and dated 10聽
analog and digital mixed media on canvas聽
Estimate: 1,000鈥�2,000 USD聽
Sold for 2,750 USD聽
LOT 57 聽
FATEMA AL MAZROUIE聽
B. 1913聽
ARABIC KOHL (FROM THE HERITAGE COLLECTION SERIES)聽
acrylic and mixed media on wood聽
Estimate: 3,000鈥�5,000 USD聽
Sold for 4,000 USD聽
LOT 58 聽
KHOLOUD SHARAFI聽
B. 1987聽
10:11:19听
mixed media on fibreboard, in two parts聽
Estimate: 4,000鈥�6,000 USD聽
Sold for 5,000 USD聽
LOT 60 聽
AISHA CAAN聽
B. 1959聽
ALLAH, THE PROVIDER聽
Right panel: signed and dated 2008聽
oil on canvas, in two parts聽
Estimate: 4,000鈥�6,000 USD聽
Sold for 5,250 USD聽
LOT 71 聽
LEVENT KARADUMAN
B. 1978聽
鲍狈罢滨罢尝贰顿听
signed and dated 1431 AH/2010 AD聽
ink on paper聽
Estimate: 30,000鈥�40,000 USD聽
Sold for 47,500 USD聽
LOT 73 聽
痴础厂贰贰惭听
B. 1966聽
THE WRECKAGE聽
stamped with the artist's monogram; signed, titled, dated 2004 and inscribed聽
mixed media on canvas聽
Estimate: 4,500鈥�5,500 USD聽
Sold for 5,625 USD聽
LOT 76 聽
PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF MOHAMMAD JAMALADINY
AZRA AGHIGHI BAKHSHAYESHI聽
鲍狈罢滨罢尝贰顿听
oil and pen on canvas聽
Estimate: 10,000鈥�15,000 USD聽
Sold for 20,000 USD聽
LOT 77 聽
WISSAM SHAWKAT聽
B. 1974聽
AL ARD WATANI, WA AL INSAANIYA USRATI - KHALIL GIBRAN (EARTH IS MY HOMELAND, AND聽
HUMANITY IS MY FAMILY - KHALIL GIBRAN)聽
signed and dated 2010聽
ink and acrylic on paper聽
Estimate: 7,000鈥�10,000 USD聽
Sold for 8,750 USD聽
Notes to Editor:
*Estimates do not include buyer鈥檚 premium聽
