Christie’s publishes auction results

Dia Al-Azzawi (Iraqi, b. 1939), Arsak Mowt (Your Wedding is Death), Painted in 1970.

Several world auction records were set at the Christie’s sale of Middle East modern and contemporary art this month.

The highest figure was raised for the late Lebanese artist Shafic Abboud, whose 1979 painting Les Années de l’oiseau sold for $391,500 (Dh1,437,588) over twice its estimated price.

Also reaching new auction records was Dia Al Azzawi, who opened a huge retrospective of his work in Qatar’s Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art this week. Azzawi’s Arsak Mowt (Your Wedding is Death), which, despite its macabre title was originally a wedding gift to the late artist Rafa Nasiri, sold for $235,500 (Dh864,756).

From the UAE, Abdul Qader Al Rais, who made two commissioned works for the jeweller Ahmed Siddiqui and Sons, raised a world record for any painting of his at auction. Zaman: A View from the first Ahmed Siddiqui and Sons Shop sold for $160,000 (Dh587,520).

The sale total was posted at $26,371,590 (Dh97,418,799) for the art and watches – there were a total of 26 auction records made.

Michael Jeha, the managing director and deputy chairman of Christie’s Dubai said: “As a rather young operation within the company, we have brought Christie’s international reputation to the region established a thriving, sustainable international art market in the Middle East. This autumn auction season has cemented Dubai as an essential part of the international auction circuit. The strategy and strength behind the curated auctions, alongside the quality of the 259 pieces offered, resonated with an even wider international audience.”