Western Asiatic Bronze Flask

Hardback with full leather binding, block borders to covers and central arabesque foliage panel; inner covers with floral motifs and foliage on a gold field; title pages with rectangular panels outlined in red, red and black calligraphic text on a liquid gold field with red and blue detailing; text pages with liquid gold frame and fronds in the field, black text with floral motifs and extensive marginal notes; end pages with gold transverse bars with red and blue geometric and floral motifs, red marginal notes; some conservation and repair. 145 grams, 6.7 x 10.4 cm



From an important family collection started in the late 1950s. Property of a West London, UK, gentleman. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12277-220402.

Rebound as a hardback with leather binding to spine and fore-edge envelope flap, marbled boards, title page with triangular block of text in red and black, notes in a different hand below; text pages typically 11 lines of wide-spaced naskh script in black ink with red title and diacritics, six-pointed stars, marginal notation, red-framed numerical and other tables; damaged pages repaired and restored; dense blocks of script to both end pages. 553 grams, 15 x 20.3 cm



From an important family collection started in the late 1950s. Property of a West London, UK, gentleman. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12272-220411.

The text is 'The Secret of Al Azhar and the Red Sulphur' (known as 'The Light of Lights and the Secret of Secrets') by al-Hakim Al-Khemai Dhul-Nun Uthman bin Suwavd Al-Akhmaimi, written out by Yususf bin Yagoub Al Ashiuli in 933 A.H. (1526 A.D.).

Each a tapering shank with graduated bulbs to the middle. 14.9 grams total, 39-42 mm



UK private collection before 2000. Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a London gentleman.