Fakes of Raza & Swaminathan at Christies auction?

Christies on the unsold Raza: 'Yes, it was a disappointment'

17 December 2015: Moments before the Christies team assembled to address the media post their third India auction on Tuesday, Syed Haider Raza's 'Bindu' was taken down. It was replaced by an untitled piece of Vasudev Gaitonde. In the spirit of the evening, Gaitonde had triumphed, Raza disappointed.

William Robinson, international head of world art, Christies said, "The large 'Bindu' did not sell and yes, it was a disappointment. I know there were some stories circulating in the press. But we stand by the painting. However, it may have affected bidding."

Robinson was perhaps alluding to claims made by a Dubai-based art house just days before the auction, that 'Bindu' and an untitled work by Jagdish Swaminathan were fakes. These allegations appear to have worked against 'Bindu'.

Raza's 1983 Bindu, Oil - touted to be fake

J Swaminathan's 1988, untitled - fake or authentic?

As for claims about the works being fake, Christies refuted them, Sonal Singh said, "If you look at Mr. Raza website, he has uploaded a picture. He, himself is authenticating it. We have got it from someone who has bought it directly from the artist."

William Robinson

(Source: Economic Times, 17 December 2015, masoom.gupte@timesgroup.com)

Related Posts:
1. Dubai art house claims paintings at Christies auction fake - Business Standard, 14 Dec, 2015
2. Gaitonde Record & An Unsold Raza at Christie’s Mumbai Sale - Blouinartinfo, 16 Dec 2015  
3. Christies's denies 'fake' claim by art house - FPJ, 16 Dec 2015