The preparation of the catalogue for the auction was a long and difficult process, Önder said, and as a whole, the works to be auction represent a collection that appeals to the interests and tastes of people from all segments of society.“Just as Ankara Antikacılık has made a name for itself with art lovers in the capital in a short span of time in recent years, we've also earned ourselves an international reputation,” he said. Önder said that Turkey had, as in the rest of the world, seen a noted increase in interest in antiques in recent years, with a growing niche for young and knowledgeable antiquers.
The 277 Turkish paintings in the collection include some that will be seen in public for the first time. They include works by İhsan Cemal Karaburçak, Burhan Doğançay, Bubi, Hakkı Anlı, Selim Turan, Avni Arbaş, Erol Akyavaş, Nedim Günsur, Abidin Dino, Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu, Eşref Üren, Nuri Abaç, Necdet Kalay and Ali Rıza Beyazıt, as well as 19th century Ottoman painters David Çıracıyan and Garabet Yazmacıyan and famous 19th century Orientalist painter Richard Zommer.
The star of the show, however, is a portrait of Sultan Selim III, Önder explained. “Among the most important of the works in the auction is a portrait of Sultan Selim III made in the late 1700s and thought to be painted by an Italian artist. One of the extremely rare examples of portraits of padishahs, this work is also an unparalleled example of Ottoman silverwork. It is valuable enough to be placed in a museum and is being awaited for unveiling at the auction with great curiosity,” he said.
Before the auction, the pieces in the collection will be on display at a gallery on Ankara's Cinnah Caddesi on Oct. 26-Nov. 8. “Antique and art lovers will be able to examine the catalogue of all of our items as well, and those interested in the happenings can also reach the catalogue online at www.ankaramuzayede.com and www.lebriz.com,” Önder said.
