As reported, from April 25 to May 2, 2025, members of the delegation led by Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Chairman of the World Society for the Study, Preservation and Popularization of the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan and Director of the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, visited London, Great Britain, and participated in auctions at the famous Sotheby's and Christie's auction houses.
It should be noted that during the meetings within the framework of the trip, practical assistance was provided by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Great Britain, Ravshan Usmanov, and the responsible employee of the embassy, Jasur Valiev.
At the auction in these trading houses, it was announced that there are rare artifacts related to the cultural heritage of Uzbekistan, in particular, the pre-Islamic period, the First and Second Renaissance, and the period of the khanates, 2 daggers (one with scabbard), one sword (with scabbard), and one valuable dagger handle from the Babur period.
- About 60 lots directly related to the cultural heritage of Uzbekistan were selected at the auction. Among them are 9 rare fragments and pages of the Quran, and 3 Quran manuscripts. In particular, a fragment of a large Quran manuscript (Baysunghur Quran), copied by the calligrapher Umar Akta' on behalf of Amir Temur, is of great importance. "We also witnessed the presence of manuscripts, miniatures, and examples of folk applied art in the historical exhibits put up for auction," says Firdavs Abdukhalikov.
At the same time, members of the delegation got acquainted with historical masterpieces of Uzbekistan stored in the personal collections of collectors living in Great Britain, such as Ali Sarikhani, Sam Fogg, Mehmet Keskiner, David Shah, Bilal Sutchi. An agreement was reached with representatives of the Khalili collection on the international exhibition. Negotiations were held to bring these rare artifacts from the collectors to the international exhibition to be held in Uzbekistan.
