Mahmud Muzahhib painting highlights Christie's auction

A painting by Mahmud Muzahhib titled The Tyranny of a Teacher Is Better than the Love of a Father (circa 1560) will lead Christie's sale of Islamic and Indian art on October 10 in London with a £120,000-150,000 ($192,840-241,050) estimate.

The auction also includes the fourth part of the sale of a private collection donated to benefit the University of Oxford.

Mahmud Muzahhib Christie's
The painting dates to circa 1560

Muzahhib is widely considered the best painter of his generation in Bukara, in modern day Uzbekistan. A leading court artist and calligrapher, he painted numerous miniatures and illuminated manuscripts.  

The Sultan Awakens the Drunken Judge at Dawn, a painting taken from the same manuscript as the featured lot, sold for £181,875 ($278,451) against an estimate of £50,000-70,000 ($76,200-106,680) at part three of the Oxford sale in April of this year.

A nasta'liq manuscript by Mir'Ali, dating to 1531-1532 and detailing the Yusuf and Zulaikha verse from the Quran, will also feature in the present sale with a £80,000-120,000 ($128,560-192,840) valuation.

Nasta'liq refers to one of the main forms of Persian calligraphy, and Mir' Ali is considered one of its finest proponents, responsible for the codifying of its aesthetic rules. In 2009, a manuscript by the artist achieved £20,000 ($31,940) against a £15,000 ($24,000) high estimate.

A rare Ming pencase made for the Ottoman market in the late 16th century is valued at £80,000-120,000 ($128,560-192,840). Chinese craftsmanship, and porcelain in particular, was coveted in Turkey at the time.

The case was embellished with gold and turquoise upon its arrival, in keeping with the Ottoman court's taste for opulence.

The auction is taking place as part of Christie's Islamic Week sales, which begin on October 7.

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