Dubai – Several jewellery pieces from a famous 20th century Arab singer will be on sale at the Christie's Jewels and Watches auction on April 28 at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel in Dubai.
Four items from the jewellery collection of Umm Khulthum - the renowned Arab singer known as the “The Shining Star of the Middle East'' (Kawab El Sharq) – will be auctioned to the highest bidder as part of The Dubai Sale.
The pieces include an emerald, diamond and pearl set comprising a brooch, a bracelet and a pair of ear pendants, estimated at $40,000-60,000 (Dh147,000-220,000).
Also included is an impressive Indian multi-strand pearl and turquoise necklace, the front designed as a stylised peacock, which is estimated at $15,000–25,000 (Dh55,000-92,000) a cultured pearl and paste “festoon'' brooch which was a gift from the late Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (1919-1980) to Umm Kulthum on the occasion of his wedding to Princess Fawzia, the sister of King Farukh, the late King of Egypt, estimate at $3,000-5,000 (Dh11,000-18,000) and a lady's cultured pearl and diamond wristwatch estimated at $4,000–6,000 (Dh15,000-22,000).
David Warren, Director of Jewellery, Middle East, said: “We are delighted to have been entrusted with this rare group of jewels from Umm Kulthum, and, as always in our Dubai sales, we have sought to offer some exquisite pieces of jewellery and fine watches.''
The sale will also include rare coloured gemstones and exquisite natural pearls alongside watches by Patek Philippe, Breguet, Cartier and Rolex. The sale will be followed by Christie's auction of International Modern and Contemporary Art to be held on April 29, 2009.
Last year, Umm Kulthum's pearl necklace sold for a staggering Dh5.1 million. Both sales are sponsored by Credit Suisse, one of the leading global providers of financial products and services in Private Banking, Investment Banking, and Asset Management.
For catalogues and further information, please telephone +971 4 425 5647 or Visit Christie's on the web at www.christies.com
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• Christie's auction, Jewels and Watches; The Dubai Sale, takes place at the Jumeirah
Emirates Towers Hotel on 28 April, 2009 at 7pm
• Christie's auction of International Modern and Contemporary Art takes place at the
Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel on 29 April, 2009 at 7pm
• Viewing is open to the public at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel:
Sunday 26 April: 2-10pm
Monday 27 April: 2-10pm
Tuesday 28 April: 10am-4.30pm – for Jewels and Watches and 10am-10pm for Pictures
Wednesday 29 April: 10am-3pm for Pictures
