Bonhams Islamic and Indian Art Sale in London Features Rare Portrait of African Soldier
The Facts
Bonhams will offer a rare portrait of an African soldier in its Islamic and Indian Art sale in London on March 30, 2026. The work, by an anonymous Persian artist and executed between 1680-90, is believed to be the first portrait of an African figure in Persian art and one of the earliest artistic records of the African community in the Gulf region. It is estimated at £100,000-150,000. The painting depicts a young African man dressed as a soldier with Persian weapons and European-influenced attire, likely a musketeer or tofangchi in the Persian army.
The Signal
Other highlights include a portrait of Raja Lal Singh by Augustus Schoefft, estimated at £150,000-200,000, and a diamond-set forehead pendant from the collection of Maharani Jindan Kaur, estimated at £90,000-120,000. The sale underscores growing market interest in works that document underrepresented historical narratives, particularly those involving cross-cultural exchange. For collectors, the African soldier portrait represents a unique opportunity to acquire a work that fills a gap in art historical scholarship on the African diaspora in the Middle East.
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- Artists: Anonymous Persian artist, Augustus Schoefft
- People: Oliver White, Raja Lal Singh, Maharani Jindan Kaur
- Auction Houses: Bonhams
- Locations: London
- Prices: £100,000-150,000, £150,000-200,000, £90,000-120,000
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