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Olympia Auctions in London is set to host a remarkable sale of Indian, Islamic, Himalayan, and South-East Asian Art, and Greek and Roman Antiquities on June 4, 2024. The auction will feature 302 lots, showcasing centuries of artistic and cultural heritage from diverse regions, faiths, and traditions. Many of the items come from private collections, some tracing back to 18th- and 19th-century connoisseurs, offering a rare glimpse into the artistic brilliance of bygone eras.
Ceramics and Tiles
Highlights include a set of three Iznik tiles from around 1600, adorned with classic Ottoman designs of scrolling saz leaves and prunus blossoms. With an estimate of £8,000–12,000, these tiles were part of a Greek private collection since the 1960s, as indicated by an old label on the frame. Another standout is a wooden model of the Buddhist temple at Bodh Gaya, Northern India, dating to the 11th century. This rare pilgrim’s souvenir, valued at £4,000–6,000, is a testament to ancient craftsmanship, with wood models being particularly scarce due to their perishable nature.
Textiles and Rugs
The sale features an exceptional array of textiles, including a collection acquired by Geoffrey Saba, an Australian pianist who toured South-East Asia with his wife during the 1960s and 70s. Notable among the textiles is a Ningshia Tantric rug (estimate: £3,000–4,000), depicting a flayed man and used in Esoteric Buddhist rites to symbolize detachment from the corporal body. A Piskent suzani from Uzbekistan, with a vibrant design of yellow motifs on a red field, is estimated at £6,000–8,000, while a 19th-century Ikat panel from Bukhara carries an estimate of £3,000–5,000.
Metalwork and Sculpture
The auction includes a 16th-century bronze figure of Ganesha from Kerala, India, valued at £4,000–6,000, and a detailed brass model of a Western Indian temple to Siva, estimated at £2,500–3,500, complete with a Nandi bull in a canopied hall. These pieces highlight the intricate artistry of metalwork in South Asian traditions.
Tibetan Thang-Ka Paintings
A significant collection of Tibetan thang-ka paintings comes from the family of Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf (1901–1995), a Viennese anthropologist who studied tribal cultures in South Asia and the Himalayas. Collected during his travels in Nepal in the 1940s, these Buddhist scrolls range in estimate from £300–3,000. A standout piece is a black ground thang-ka depicting Mahakala (18th/19th century), estimated at £10,000–15,000.
Manuscripts and Illustrations
The sale includes three illustrations from a 16th-century Safavid manuscript of the Shahnameh, as well as a 17th-century Mughal illustration from The Shahnama (The Book of Kings). One illustrated page, depicting The Trial by Fire of Siyavush and dating to c.1630, is unique among five known pages from the same manuscript, bearing text on the verso and early annotations likely by Mrs. Richardson Currer, a renowned 19th-century bibliophile. It is estimated at £3,000–5,000.
From the collection of the late artist Howard Hodgkin comes an illustration of Bhairav Raga, a devotional melody in Indian classical music. Painted in the Mankot style (c.1720–30), it depicts the god Bhairava on a bull with an attendant holding a fly whisk, estimated at £5,000–8,000.
Mughal Art and Portraiture
A 17th-century Mughal portrait of a courtier holding a falcon is part of a page from an album, or muraqqa, compiled by Colonel Antoine-Louis-Henri Polier (1741–1795), a Swiss polymath who spent decades in India. Estimated at £3,000–5,000, this portrait evokes themes of courtly life and falconry, with possible connections to Emperor Jahangir or other nobles. The page’s provenance includes ownership by William Beckford, an eccentric English collector, and its current owner acquired it in the 1980s.
Greek Antiquities
The sale also features an Attic black-figure amphora from c.540–520 BC, attributed to the “Swing Painter”, an unnamed artist of great renown. Painted with a gigantomachy—a mythological battle between the Olympian gods and the Giants—the amphora is estimated at £20,000–30,000. Its intricate design includes figures of Athena, other helmeted gods, and friezes of lotus flowers and pointed leaves.
Cultural and Historical Significance
This auction offers a diverse and vibrant selection of artworks and artifacts, each with its own unique story and cultural significance. From Ottoman tiles and Tantric rugs to Mughal manuscripts and Greek amphorae, the sale reflects the rich tapestry of artistic traditions across continents and centuries. Collectors and enthusiasts will have the opportunity to acquire pieces that not only embody exceptional craftsmanship but also carry the legacy of their historical and cultural contexts.
