20th May, 2026 11:00
Live Sale: Indian, Islamic, Himalayan and South-East Asian Art 2026
81
‡ A MAMLUK OR OTTOMAN IRON WINDOW GRILLE, LEVANT, 15TH/16TH CENTURY
in the form of a grid with ball joints, a decorative finial in the central upper section flanked by arabesque medallions on the adjacent joints, flanked by indistinct arabic inscriptions on the horizontal rungs, two further medallions below together with two loose rings, mounted in modern walnut frame, 132 x 99cm (including frame)
Provenance: Reputedly from a house in Damascus. Eric Grunberg Fine Arts; Christie's London, 28 April 1992, lot 209. Acquired by the vendor from Oliver Hoare 26 May 1992.
Iron grilles of this type are seen on many public and private buildings in Damascus dating from the Mamluk and Ottoman eras, such as the Darwishiyya Mosque (1572-1575, see Millner 2025, p.135, fig.4.19)
Item number SN00668016/008
in the form of a grid with ball joints, a decorative finial in the central upper section flanked by arabesque medallions on the adjacent joints, flanked by indistinct arabic inscriptions on the horizontal rungs, two further medallions below together with two loose rings, mounted in modern walnut frame, 132 x 99cm (including frame)
Provenance: Reputedly from a house in Damascus. Eric Grunberg Fine Arts; Christie's London, 28 April 1992, lot 209. Acquired by the vendor from Oliver Hoare 26 May 1992.
Iron grilles of this type are seen on many public and private buildings in Damascus dating from the Mamluk and Ottoman eras, such as the Darwishiyya Mosque (1572-1575, see Millner 2025, p.135, fig.4.19)
Auction: Live Sale: Indian, Islamic, Himalayan and South-East Asian Art 2026, 20th May, 2026
The sale includes the collection of Robert Skelton OBE, curator of Indian Art at the Victoria and Albert Museum. It comprises some exquisite 18th and 19th century Indian paintings and drawings as well as a fine group of modern Indian paintings with works by Shiavax Chavda (1914 - 1990), Francis Newton Souza (1924 - 2002), K Laxma Goud (B. 1940) and Jayashree Chakravarty (B. 1956). Tiles, Indian bronzes, thewa boxes, a silver gilt ewer, a ‘Koftgari’ pen box and a Mughal carved black jade dagger are also among the lots in this collection.
Also in the same sale is 10th -12th century Persian pottery, a monumental pair of 19th century doors, Persian and Syrian ceramics including tiles, also Iznic tiles from Ottoman Anatolia. Other lots include Indian bronze figures, small furniture, textiles and rugs.
Auction Location: London, UK
Monday 18th May: 10am to 5:30pm
Tuesday 19th May: 10am to 5pm
Viewing
PUBLIC EXHIBITION:
Sunday 17th May: 12pm to 4pm
Monday 18th May: 10am to 5:30pm
Tuesday 19th May: 10am to 5pm
CONTACT
indianandislamic@olympiaauctions.com + 44 (0)20 7806 5545
