Lyon & Turnbull were proud to present the winter edition of their specialist Islamic & Indian Art auction in London on 10 December 2025, a sale that drew enthusiastic participation from bidders around the globe. The auction achieved £686,500, surpassing its high estimate and reaffirming the sustained strength and international appeal of the category.
Islamic Art: Manuscript Discovery Leads the Sale
The Islamic art section was led by an exceptional and newly discovered Mamluk manuscript on Equine Medicine, Kitab al-Baytarah by Ibn Akhi Hizam, which had resided in a British library since at least the late 19th or early 20th century. After a prolonged and competitive bidding battle, the manuscript achieved over £189,000, far exceeding expectations.
This 15th-century Syrian or Egyptian manuscript, created for a high-ranking Mamluk officer, is a significant copy of the earliest and most important Arabic text on hippiatry - originally authored in the 9th century and long regarded as the foundational veterinary treatise in Arabic. Its distinguished provenance includes the library at Torridon House, home of the Earls of Lovelace.
Other notable results in the Islamic section included continued strong interest in Iznik pottery. A beautifully decorated 17th-century Turkish dish featuring a deer sold for £17,780, demonstrating ongoing demand for fine Ottoman ceramics.
Indian Art: A German Collector’s Vision Realised
A highlight of the Indian art section was “The Collection of a German Enthusiast”, assembled over 25 years - first by serendipity, and later through a deepening passion for the vivid colour, narrative charm, and expressive portraits of Indian miniature painting.
This collection opened with rare reference books on Islamic and Indian art, followed by an impressive group of paintings. Leading the section was a refined mid-18th century gouache from the famed Polier Album, depicting the influential Mughal statesman Nawab Amir Sayeed Husain Ali Khan. The Polier Album pages, celebrated for their elegant fusion of Mughal and European aesthetics, remain highly sought-after. Attributed to the circle of Mihr Chand, this work achieved £36,740.
The auction also showcased works from other private collections. Among them was a finely detailed circa 1780 Bikaner painting of ladies bathing in a lotus-filled palace pool, which realised £27,920. The work reflects the refined legacy of earlier Bikaner masters such as Isa and Ruknuddin.
Top Lots
A Mamluk Manuscript of Ibn Akhi Hizam’s ‘Kitab al-Baytarah’
Syria or Egypt, 15th century, with later additions
Provenance: Torridon House, Home of the Earls of Lovelace
An important and elegant manuscript of the foundational Arabic text on horse medicine, produced for an elite member of the Mamluk military establishmen
Sold for £189,200 (premium inclusive)
An Iznik Pottery Dish Decorated with a Deer
Turkey, 17th century
A charming example of Ottoman figural ceramics, part of a storied Anatolian artistic lineage.
Sold for £17,780 (premium inclusive)
Detached Folio from the Polier Album - Nawab Amir Sayeed Husain Ali Khan
Circle of Mihr Chand, Lucknow or Faizabad, mid-18th century
An exquisite portrait from a historically significant album commissioned by Antoine Polier, blending Mughal artistry with European decorative sensibilities.
Sold for £36,740 (premium inclusive)
Ladies Bathing in a Palace Pool Filled with Lotus Flowers
India, Rajasthan, Bikaner, circa 1780
Provenance: The property of a Lady
A refined and intricately rendered palace scene in the tradition of Bikaner’s most celebrated artists.
Sold for £27,920 (premium inclusive)
A Strong End to the Year
The December auction marks a successful close to the year for Lyon & Turnbull’s Islamic & Indian Art department in London, with international collectors responding enthusiastically to both rare scholarly works and exceptional examples of decorative arts.
Head of sale and consultant specialist Kristina Sanne commented on the auction,
"This has been a wonderful sale to work on since most of the artworks offered were fresh to the market. The manuscript was an extraordinary discovery from a British library and I feel very privileged to have worked on it. The Indian miniature paintings from the collection of a German enthusiast were beautiful and am pleased to know that many of them have gone to private homes both in UK and India.”
*all prices inclusive of buyer’s premium.
