Business & Finance Club - Exhibition : Rare and museum-quality works by leading artists from the Middle East and South Asia will be among the highlights of Bonhams' sixth auction in Dubai, to be held on October 11 at the One & Only Royal Mirage Hotel. The sale also includes vintage and limited-edition watches and classic collectors' cars, which are being offered on auction for the first time in the Middle East.

The art catalogue includes an eclectic mix of modern and contemporary works from the region. Among the outstanding works of Arab art on sale is Iraqi artist Jewad Selim's sculpture, Mother and Child. Selim, one of the great masters of Arab art, died at the age of 41 but his work has inspired generations of artists in the region. His sculptures rarely come up for sale and hence this masterpiece, created from fruitwood and mixed media, is a significant offering for collectors.

Other leading Iraqi artists featured in the sale include Dia Azzawi, Kadhim Haider, Esmail Fateh and Shaker Hassan. The selection of Arab art also includes works by Lebanese artists Baalbaki and Paul Guiragossian, Syrian artists Fateh Moudares and Kayali, and Egyptian greats such as Ahmad Mustafa and Hamed Nada. A painting by Mustafa, Man in a Rocking Chair, is an excellent example of the artist's early work.

Iranian art is represented through important works by several leading artists. Parvez Tanavoli's Heech 1, dated 1967, is the earliest free-standing bronze sculpture by the artist to be offered for sale. The artist's concept of the Heech as a sculptural form first emerged in 1966 which makes this piece a rare early manifestation of his iconic series.

Another stunning work is a sculpture of two birds perched on a branch by Bahman Mohasses, who passed away earlier this year. This piece is the only sculptural work by this famous sculptor and painter to appear at auction so far. Equally eye-catching is a vibrant calligraphic painting by Charles Hussain Zanderoudi that was part of the private collection of Michel Tapié, a renowned Parisian art dealer who worked with the artist in the early 1970s.

The catalogue includes an early masterpiece by Houshang Pezeshknia, titled Crucified. Dated 1946, this painting, inspired by Cubism and Fauvism, is the largest and earliest work by the artist to appear at an auction.

At the Bonhams auction in 2008, Farhad Moshiri became the first Middle Eastern artist to fetch a price of over $1 million for his work. And his oil and mixed-media painting, Map of Iran, is expected to better that record in this sale.

Other important Iranian works include a piece from Aydin Aghdashloo's series Memories of Destruction, in which a shattered monochrome Seljuk bowl is depicted flying across a black background, and works by well-known names such as Abbas Kiarostami and Bahman Jalali.

There is also a strong line-up of works by artists from the subcontinent. These include pioneers of contemporary Indian art such as Jamini Roy, Rabindranath Tagore, M.F. Hussain, B. Prabha, Jogen Chowdhary and Syed Haidar Raza, leading Pakistani artists Allah Bux, Sadequain, Esmail Gulgee and Ahmad Pervez and Ivan Peries and Sri Lankan artist George Keyt.

The choice for collectors of Indian art ranges from Roy's mythology-inspired paintings to a selection of Hussain's that include a calligraphic work, figurative pieces and his famous horses.

Another highlight is an oil on canvas by Bux from his most sought-after Heer and Ranjha series, based on the popular Punjabi folklore. Dated 1960, this painting depicts the moment when Heer first sets eyes on Ranjha and falls in love with him. The museum-quality piece is the largest and most significant work by the artist to come on the market and was acquired directly from the artist by the present owner's grandfather.

Another interesting piece is Gulgee's In the Remembrance of God Do Hearts Find Satisfaction. Besides these words from the Quran, the agate mosaic set within a brass mount also has the 99 names of Allah inscribed on a brass band around the edge of the mosaic.

Mehreen Rizvi Khursheed, head of Middle East and South Asian art at Bonhams, says: "From our successful auction in 2008, we learnt there is a vibrant art scene in Dubai and many top collectors based in the Gulf region. But buyer behaviour has changed after the economic recession.

"Collectors have become more selective and rather than just buying ‘names', they are looking for quality works by masters. There are also new collectors in the market who are buying interesting works from newer artists.

"Hence, our selection includes museum-quality works by famous artists and pieces that are from private collections and have not been on the market for too long."