The 2008 sale of a key thought to have been made in the 12th century for the Ka'aba, which set an auction record for an Islamic work of art, has been canceled, Sotheby's said. Shortly after the sale last April at Sotheby's in London, when the key sold for £9.2 million ($13.49 million) or over 18 times its pre-sale estimate, experts raised questions about its authenticity, prompting the auctioneer to annul the result. “In light of the divergence of academic views, Sotheby's and the consignor decided to cancel the sale in May 2008, pending further research and scientific analysis,” Sotheby's said in a statement. “The key is a fascinating object and interested parties are still captivated by this rare and intriguing piece. Consequently there continues to be interest in a sale, notwithstanding the divergence of both academic views and scientific analysis, which remain inconclusive.” News of the cancellation only emerged when the specialist publication The Art Newspaper reported it in a recent article. The iron key was originally believed to have been from the Abbasid period. It was believed to be the only one of 59 recorded Ka'aba keys in private hands. According to The Art Newspaper, shortly after the auction the key was taken to the British Museum where it was examined by a number of specialists. Two weeks later they expressed “serious doubts” over its date and authenticity. The key was returned to its original owner.
