Page 58 - 2021 April 1, ART OF THE ISLAMIC AND Indian Worlds Including Oriental Rugs, Christie's London

33
A FOLIO FROM THE NASIR AL-DIN SHAH ALBUM
QAJAR IRAN, CIRCA 1888
Polychrome paper heightened with gold laid down on card, with
a polychrome découpé floral spray on black ground, within lilac
borders with gold flowers and wide forest green borders overlaid
with polychrome découpé shapes and gold leafy vine, the reverse
plain, overall good condition
Folio 17¿ x 11¡in. (43.5 x 28.9cm.)
£3,000-5,000 US$4,200-7,000
€3,500-5,800
PROVENANCE:
Swiss Private Collection
This folio is the page which faced the dedication page for the
royal album made for Nasir al-Din Shah in 1888, probably to
commemorate the 40th anniversary of his accession to the
throne. The dedication page was also sold in these Rooms, 26
April 2012, lot 219. Other folios from the album have sold in these
Rooms, 10 October 2000, lots 88, 89, 90 and 91. More recently
a large section of the album, comprising 27 folios was sold, 6
October 2011, lot 265.

34
A PORTRAIT OF A SEATED MAN SPINNING WOOL
SCHOOL OF KAMAL AL-MULK, QAJAR IRAN, 19TH/20TH
CENTURY
Oil on canvas, framed
19æ x 23¿in. (50 x 58.7cm.) including frame
£6,000-8,000 US$8,400-11,000
€7,000-9,200
This painting can be attributed to a student or a close follower
of Kamal al-Mulk, as it closely resembles the techniques and
colour palletes used by him. The master established Sanaye
Mostazrafeh Art School, better known as Kamal al-Mulk Art
School, in 1911 in Tehran. The School's goal was to find new
33
talents, embrace them and educate them in the best possible
way. It is probable that our painting is a product of a student of
that school.

*35
A PORTRAIT OF MUHAMMAD 'ALI SHAH QAJAR
SIGNED MANSUR AL-MALIK, QAJAR IRAN, DATED AH
1326/1908-09 AD
Oil on canvas
32¿ x 21ºin. (81.5 x 53.9cm.)
£20,000-30,000 US$29,000-42,000
€24,000-35,000
There are very few known portraits of Muhammad 'Ali Shah
Qajar, the sixth ruler of the Qajar dynasty who ruled for only two
years (1907–1909). Our painting displays a strong interest in
photographic realism and speaks to the spirit of experimentation
with new techniques and media which bloomed in Iran from
the later 19th century. What makes this painting particularly
interesting is its execution date which falls within the last year
of the Shah’s reign. The painter of this portrait is not known,
but he was probably a student at the Dar-al-Funun. Another full
34 length portrait of Muhammad ‘Ali Shah is in the collection of the
Metropolitan Museum (acc. no. 2019.175).

56 In addition to the hammer price, a Buyer’s Premium (plus VAT) is payable. Other taxes and/or an Artist Resale Royalty
fee are also payable if the lot has a tax or λ symbol. Check Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of this catalogue.