Sotheby's biannual sale of Arts of the Islamic World includes an extraordinary collection of fine and rare works of Islamic art. For sale are ancient manuscripts, ceramics, metalwork, weaponry, textiles, and paintings that span the period from the rise of Islam in the 7th century through to the 19th century. 
I visited Turkey for my second time recently, and had the opportunity to view such pieces and learn more about the history. Typically, Islamic Art is focused on the depiction of patterns and beautiful Arabic calligraphy. Many Muslims feared that rendering figures in art was a form of idolatry. The Sotheby's sale will auction pieces that are not only centuries old, but come with unique, true stories of their ancestry. Islamic Art is not necessarily always religious and came from various regions spanning from northwest India, across Central Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, southern Italy, and the Iberian Peninsula, to the Pyrenees. 
One piece (below) that will be auctioned is an early 16th century Ottoman ivory and turquoise-inlaid box set with rubies. The floral designs are true to the Ottoman fashion, as are the scrupulous nielloed gold works which depict the Safavid (Persian Dynasty) traditions. The rare box created by Persian goldsmiths is touted to fetch anything between $743,000 - $1,000,000. 
The auction will take place on Wed, 14 Apr 10, 10:00 AM and Wed, 14 Apr 10, 2:30 PM Or visit http://www.sothebys.com