Christie’s Dubai Auction

Asharq Al-Awsat discusses Christie’s Dubai auction, including a long-lost painting by Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour. Christie’s twice-yearly Dubai auction occurs at the same time as Art Dubai and opens at Jumeirah Emirates Towers.

Abdulnasser Gharem’s Hemisphere. Source.

Here, The National looks at some of the 159 works being auctioned. Christie’s Dubai auctions have achieved spectacular results in the past, with Middle Eastern works being sold for three times the pre-sale estimates.

From a Swedish Corporate Collection derives Farhat Al Nuba (The Happiness of Nubia) one of Tahia Halim’s undisputed masterpieces (Egyptian, 1919-2003 / estimate: $120,000-180,000). The painting was bought in the 1960s from the artist and has been hanging in the company’s boardroom ever since.

Past Auctions:

Hala Khayat, Christie’s specialist in Dubai, said the auction is of considerable importance. “From an academic point of view, the auction is considered to be one that tells the history of art. It is also an auction that targets a type of collector who is eager to protect part of their country and their region’s history, especially at this time when we see powers acting to sweep away and destroy historical landmarks.”