You don’t have to be a collector to love Indian paintings or decorative boxes from 17th century Persia. Look for experts who can help you find the artifact you are looking for…
Indian and Islamic Antiques for Sale in the UKFor Collectors And Everyone Else
You don’t have to be a collector to love Indian paintings or decorative boxes from 17th century Persia. Look for experts who can help you find the artifact you are looking for.
Antiques for Sale in the UK from the East
If you are a collector or want to decorate your home in an Eastern theme, you may find a large selection of Indian and Islamic antiques for sale in the UKand locate the items you are looking for. Traditional Eastern styles of pottery, painting, embroidery and metalwork are known for their detailed motifs, patterns and intricate work. Many small pots and paintings tell a story if you look at the depictions carefully. While works of art from the 11th century are more commonly found in museums than the marketplace, you can find antiques for sale in the UK that are as old as the 16th century, although most of the items you will find will come from later periods. Whether you are looking for a miniature painting from Persia or an intricately patterned silver dagger from the Ottoman Empire, with persistence and a clear idea before you search, you are likely to be successful in finding the artifact that will enhance your collection.
Decorative Boxes
Ivory boxes from India are among antiques for sale in the UK
Decorative boxes are popular items among Indian and Islamic antiques for sale in the UK. You may find a striking ivory casket with interlacing floral and leaf designs to form a lace-like pattern. Intricately woven caskets and boxes are valuable and can be used for display or for storing items. You may find an antique items similar to those on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Another striking design are boxes with tortoise shell overlays of materials such as mother of pearl, ebony, ivory or other materials on wood. Mother of pearl and ivory were used to highlight designs depicting natural scenes or characters in narratives. The technique was used on a variety of woodwork and is seen in antique wooden boxes as well as furniture. In addition to images of flowers, animals or humans, designs and patterns made of inlays of mother and pearl and ivory are also found on bowls, vases and trays.
Antiques for sale in the UK: Veneer ivory box
In some cases, patterns are used on the borders with the main surface plain, as seen in this ivory veneered sandalwood work box. The main part of the box is made of fragrant sandalwood, is suspended on claws feet and the exterior is pure ivory. These boxes were made in India and have a number of wooden compartments on the interior to contain small items.
Pottery and Ceramics
Antiques for sale in the UK: Iznik potteryOne of the best known styles of Islamic ceramics found among antiques for sale in the UK are Iznik pottery which reached its zenith in the 16th and 17th century Ottoman Empire. The pottery was developed in Turkey and was influenced by the cobalt designs on white porcelain perfected by the Chinese. The Ottomans used an earthenware backdrop on cobalt patterns, and eventually, the backgrounds and designs contained many varieties of colors and patterns. Floral and leaf motifs that seemed to extend beyond the borders were popular, and commonly used colors included black, yellow, red, blue, purple and green. The style became popular in an adapted form in Europe up until the 20th century.
Decorative ewers in shapes of animals or flowers are found often among Eastern antiques. Often, the ceramics are in deep, solid shades of blue or green and contain patterns in black or other colored paints. Some may have an opening at the top that mimics a beak as well as other highlights that give the ceramic an almost life-like form.
You may not be able to purchase a Persian home from the 17th century in its complete form, but you can purchase a few tiles among antiques for sale in the UK. Underglazed monochrome tiles with bold colors and floral motifs can be found at antique dealers, and while most tiles are from later centuries, it may be possible to find a few dating back to the 1500s. An Ottoman background pattern on white earthenware may display an arabesque floral design in reds, blues or yellows.
Metal Works
Just as Eastern paintings contained within them narratives, so many metal cups and bowls also have stories engraved on them. If you go browse among antiques for sale in the UK, you could come up with a spectacular find of a traditional Burmese silver bowl from the 19th century. These bowls and cups contain complex detail and show figures from traditional lore acting out familiar stories. Some contain nature, hunting or war scenes.
Burmese silver bowl is available among antiques for sale in the UK
You may also find silver water bottles from India. The base may contain a detailed leaf pattern, and the bottles may have matching stoppers attached with chains. Decorative weapons are also popular items among Indian and Islamic antiques for sale in the UK, and you may come across silver daggers with interlocking engraved patterns in silver and elegant scabbards.
Locating Antiques for Sale in the UK
Antiques may be your profession, your passion or simply an excellent way of decorating your home. In addition, you may value artifacts for their monetary value as an investment. Giving a young adult in your family an classic vase, bowl or engraved goblet can help them celebrate establishing a new home and provide them with a gift that will increase in value and can be handed down as a family heirloom. Research antiques well before purchasing and work with dealers you trust. Make sure the dealers can verify the authenticity and that you are paying the market value for the item. Cherish your antique that will add beauty to your home with every passing year.