Archive · 31 Oct 2025
Mughal Miniature by Basawan Sells for World Record Price at Christie's
A very old and special painting from India, made by an artist named Basawan who was liked by an emperor long ago, was sold at an auction.
This painting shows a cheetah family resting in a rocky place with a tree.
It sold for a lot of money, over 10 million pounds, which is about 119 crore rupees!
This is 14 times more than people thought it would sell for.
It's now the most expensive classical Indian artwork ever sold.
The painting came from a collection owned by a prince and princess, which made it even more special.
The auction house said this sale is a big moment for art from India and the Islamic world, showing how much people like and value these historical treasures.
A Mughal miniature painting by Basawan, depicting a family of cheetahs, sold for a world record price of over £10 million.
The painting, titled 'A Family of Cheetahs in a Rocky Landscape' (circa 1575–80), fetched approximately ₹119.49 crore.
The sale price was 14 times greater than the artwork's original estimate.
The piece came from the personal collection of Prince and Princess Sadruddin Aga Khan and was auctioned at Christie's London on October 28.
This record-breaking sale marks a significant moment for the market of classical Indian and Islamic art.
- Who
- Basawan (attributed artist), Prince and Princess Sadruddin Aga Khan (collection owners), Christie's, and collectors
- What
- A Mughal miniature painting titled 'A Family of Cheetahs in a Rocky Landscape' sold for a world record price for classical Indian art.
- When
- October 28
- Where
- Christie's London
- Why
- To auction works from the personal collection of Prince and Princess Sadruddin Aga Khan, attracting significant international interest for rare classical Indian and Islamic art.
- Artwork Title
- A Family of Cheetahs in a Rocky Landscape
- Artist
- Basawan (attributed)
- Circa
- 1575–80
- Sale Price
- £10,245,000 (approx. ₹119.49 crore)
- Estimate Multiple
- 14 times the original estimate
- Auction House
- Christie's London
- Collection
- Personal Collection of Prince & Princess Sadruddin Aga Khan
