Islamic and Indian Art

M.F. Husain’s Mother Teresa is one of the highlighted lots in the upcoming Islamic and Indian Art auction, presented by Bonhams. The painting depicts a faceless Mother Teresa nestling a child and a dove of peace. Gradations of the night sky permeate her hollow form. First appearing in Husain’s paintings around 1980, the figure of Mother Teresa can be seen repeatedly in his later works. As the artist said, “I have tried to capture in my paintings what Mother Teresa’s presence meant to the destitute and the dying, the light and hope she brought by mere inquiry, by putting her hand over a child abandoned in the street.”

The auction offers over 250 lots of fine art, collectibles, and Islamic coins. Among the key items is an Umayyad gold dinar from the reign of Abd al-Malik. During the late seventh century CE, the Umayyad Caliphate did not have a currency of its own and used Byzantine coinage for commerce. It was not liked by Abd al-Malik, who then released the 77H dinar as the first Islamic coin. Another lot of interest is a gold minute repeater pocket watch by Constant Piguet for Awn al-Rafiq, Sharif of Mecca. The 18-karat gold case is covered with red Guilloche enamel and bears the initials S.A. View each of these lots and register to bid on Bonhams.