Inaugural Sotheby's Dubai auction reaps Dh13.2m

The diverse selection of items attracted participants from five continents and 33 countries

Ali Banisadr, In Medias Res went for the highest bid of $459,000 (est. $200,000-300,000). Courtesy Sotherby's

Bahman Mohasses' Untitled sold for $375,000 (est. 80,000-250,000). Courtesy Sotherby's

Francois-Xavier Lalanne's Oiseau d’Argent, A Rocking Chair sold for $30,000 (est. $18,000-20,000). Courtesy Sotherby's

Tamara de Lempicka's Indien à Turban was sold for $150,000 (est. $70,000-90,000).

Manoucher Yektai’s Portrait of Mrs Homa Vakil Mansour –sold for $81,250 (est. $65,000-80,000). Courtesy Sotherby's

Khalil Gibran's collection of thirty three letters written to his friend and patron Madame Marie Azeez El-Khoury fetched a sum of $100,000 (est. $24,000-28,000). Courtesy Sotherby's

Alighiero Boetti’s Fuso ma non confuse sold for $31,250 (est. $18,000-25,000). Courtesy Sotherby's

Antoine Malliarakis Mayo's Ismailia sold for a record price for the artist of $100,000 (est. $30,000-40,000). Courtesy Sotherby's

Jean Dubuffet's Palmiers Aux Bedouins sold for $137,500 (est. $60,000-80,000). Courtesy Sotherby's

Ali Banisadr's Meanwhile sold for $118,750 (est. $100,000-150,000). Courtesy Sotherby's

This week’s inaugural Sotheby’s Dubai auction has been deemed a resounding success with the eclectic mix of art on sale reaping $3.6 million (Dh13.2m).

Boundless: Dubai featured a broad cross-section of lots that Sotheby's Ashkan Baghestani said "had the potential to appeal to the tastes and budgets of first-time collectors, heavyweight works aimed primarily at the institutional market, and a little bit of everything in between".

The event, held on November 13 at the Ritz-Carlton in DIFC, and attracted bidders from 33 countries across five continents.

According to organisers there was a broad selection of regional interest.

“The strong sale result is testament to the exciting evolution of the market here in the UAE and the international focus that has reached an all-time high,” said Edward Gibbs, Sotheby’s Chairman for the Middle East.

The top lot was Ali Banisadr's In Media Res, which was chased in an extended bidding battle by no less than six bidders to a final sum of $459,000 (Dh1.68m). The original estimate for this piece was between $200,000-300,000.

Check our photo gallery above for some of the other items that attracted strong interest.

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