$5,630,125 (QAR 20,500,765) with sell-through rates of 72.5% by lot.  32% of the buyers were new to Sotheby’s.

• The top-selling work of this evening’s first-ever auction devoted to the theme of calligraphic art was Egyptian artist Ahmed Moustafa’s 2010 oil and watercolour on paper The Night Journey and Ascension. This work, measuring 240 by 148.5cm, realised the strong sum of $842,500 / QAR 3,067,764 (Est: $700,000-900,000), representing a new record for the artist at auction.

• No fewer than five bidders competed for Farhad Moshiri’s 2005 mixed media on canvas, 095TTV, and after five minutes of intense bidding the painting brought the outstanding price of $782,500 / QAR 2,849,288, over seven times pre-sale expectations (Est: $100,000-150,000).

• Untitled, a 1962 oil on canvas by Mohammad Ehsai sold above the high estimate of $350,000 for $554,500 / QAR 2,019,080, and Rachid Koraichi’s bronze Ahmed Ezaatar, brought $182,500/ QAR 664,530, against a low estimate of $180,000.