Elephant incense burner leads Islamic, Indian & Chinese Art sale

An intricate 7^th to 8^th century silver elephant shaped incense burner will star at Apollo Art Auction’s Fine Islamic, Indian & Chinese Art sale on December 14.

Carrying an estimate of £600,000-£800,000, the item is engraved with the master’s signature - “Fazil worked” or in Arabic “Faisal worked” to the back of the animal’s neck.

The body is covered with a beaded harness and a saddle rug decorated with floral motifs, while the rider wears an ornate jacket and armed with a knife.

Elephants are often found in Sogdian art (the area now comprises of present-day Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan) in fabrics of the 8th-9th centuries.

The auction will take bidders on a geographical and historical journey with Islamic, Indian, Chinese, Korean and Tibetan pieces dating between the 3000 BC through to the 19th century. Other highlights in the sale include:

Bronze Buddhist sculpture

An outstanding example of early Nepalese Buddhist sculpture. The c.800-900 gilded bronze shows a bodhisattva seated in the padmasana lotus position wearing a crown adorned with delicate details such as necklaces, armlets and earrings. Estimate £35,000-65,000.

Pottery tile panel

An early 14th century wall panel made up of cobalt-blue and turquoise painted tiles with floral relief detailing. It is framed within an outer border of scrolling vine, measuring 122cm x 87cm (48 x 34in. Estimate £30,000-60,000.

Mamluk bronze candlestick

A gilded bronze candlestick bell dating from 1300-1400, decorated with inscriptions around the body and the neck. Estimate £15,000-20,000.   

Chinese terracotta camel

A Tang Dynasty c.618-907 terracotta camel with a small monkey sat on the saddle looking curiously at the surroundings. Elaborate carved details can be seen on the mane and multiple layered saddle. Measuring 64cm x 56cm (25 x 22in, its estimate is £4500-9000.