Fresh to the market, it had been entered by a British lady who had acquired it in the 1960s. Christie’s offered two, rather worn examples as one lot in a sale a year ago which realised £13,000, a figure that formed the basis for the £5000-8000 estimate on this piece, but two determined collectors took this version to no less than £26,000.
Silk-embroidered linen ceremonial panel
UK: Moroccan textiles were the strong suit in Christie’s South Kensington’s May 4 sale of Islamic and Indian textiles, none more so than this impressive 2ft 3in x 8ft x6in (70cm x 2.6m) silk-embroidered linen ceremonial panel dated to the 18th century and worked with striking abstract designs.