Sotheby’s Dubai gets $3m in first auction

With participants from five continents and 33 countries, Sotheby’s Dubai inaugural auction took in over $3 million (Dh11 million) this week, with 30 per cent of the bids coming from the UAE.

Edward Gibbs, Sotheby’s Chairman for the Middle East, said, “The strong sale result is testament to the exciting evolution of the market here in the UAE and the international focus that has reached an all-time high. The sale’s offering was sourced internationally and united by the common thread of the appeal and influence of the Middle East across artistic disciplines and eras. Having seen the number of our UAE clients buying in our sales increase by over 80 per cent in the last five years. Tonight’s sale here in Dubai saw us take the next step.”

Bidders in the room, on the phone and online competed to buy works spanning 20th century and contemporary Middle Eastern and international art, design, photography, jewellery, books and manuscripts and arts of the Islamic World. The top lot of the sale was Ali Banisadr’s captivatingly explosive canvas, In Media Res, described as an intoxicating mix of colour and exuberant brushstrokes inspired by elaborate Persian miniatures. It was chased in an extended bidding battle by no less than six bidders to a final sum of $459,000 (Dh1.6 million).

Also on sale were works by major international modern artists offered for the first time at auction in the Middle East: French artist and leading proponent of “art brut”, Jean Dubuffet, and Polish American art deco painter, Tamara de Lempicka.