tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86479145028473970542024-02-29T01:13:55.151-08:00THE ART TRUTHNEWS & VIEWS on the DYNAMICS OF INDIA'S ART MARKET Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-69431207263060846082020-11-08T03:50:00.023-08:002021-08-13T05:05:33.969-07:00Sotheby's sued for helping collector evade tax on $27m of art - contemporary Indian artist Anish Kapoor’s work one among many part of this fraud <p data-reader-unique-id="1" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; max-width: 100%; text-size-adjust: auto;">Sotheby’s helped an art collector dodge millions of dollars in New York sales taxes, the state attorney general said in a lawsuit filed Friday, accusing the prominent auction house of accepting bogus documentation to spare a top client a tax bill.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p data-reader-unique-id="2" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; max-width: 100%; text-size-adjust: auto;">The case involves $27 million worth of purchases of pieces by such artists as painter Jean-Michel Basquiat and sculptor Anish Kapoor, and it portrays Sotheby’s as so eager to keep a top client’s business that staffers enabled him to pass himself off as an art dealer for tax purposes.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="3" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; max-width: 100%; text-size-adjust: auto;">“Sotheby’s violated the law and fleeced New York taxpayers out of millions just to boost its own sales,” Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, said in a statement.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="11" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; max-width: 100%; text-size-adjust: auto;">The lawsuit comes after the collector’s art holding company, a British Virgin Islands-based concern called Porsal Equities Ltd., settled with the attorney general’s office in 2018. Porsal agreed to pay $10.75 million in taxes, damages and penalties over allegations that it skirted sales tax on more than $50 million in art buys from various entities in New York.</p><p style="border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: PublicoText-Roman-Web, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 30px 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60pxBTU4ig3hlufzkSe4oBupvv2Kdfi8Tsl71E745_xFAo_94VicbBMNZTcjMcCnkt5QSKGdRwGLUoH4buYdopT28Kc5AgOfRC7qSwrydfvFksL75y6LFEumpOLgD9oSHLwHcDaOFphos/s1704/anish+kapoor1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="1704" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60pxBTU4ig3hlufzkSe4oBupvv2Kdfi8Tsl71E745_xFAo_94VicbBMNZTcjMcCnkt5QSKGdRwGLUoH4buYdopT28Kc5AgOfRC7qSwrydfvFksL75y6LFEumpOLgD9oSHLwHcDaOFphos/s320/anish+kapoor1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Anish Kapoor with one of his works; Sothebys helped a collector evade tax on one of his artworks<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p data-reader-unique-id="14" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; max-width: 100%; text-size-adjust: auto;">The attorney general’s office hasn’t publicly identified the collector. The lawsuit describes him as someone who runs a successful shipping business, fancies Latin American art, lives outside the U.S. and has homes around the world, including a New York City apartment.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="15" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; max-width: 100%; text-size-adjust: auto;">According to the lawsuit, he made a 2010 visit to Sotheby’s New York City headquarters and met a junior staffer keen to cultivate him as a client. After the collector asked why some art purchases aren’t subject to sales tax, she provided him with what’s known as a “resale certificate” form and partly filled it out.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p data-reader-unique-id="16" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; max-width: 100%; text-size-adjust: auto;">The document is meant to provide a tax exemption only to art dealers buying items for their business inventory and resale. Other buyers generally owe New York state and city sales tax on art purchased and delivered in the city.</p><p data-reader-unique-id="17" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; max-width: 100%; text-size-adjust: auto;">The staffer — and, over time, more than 20 colleagues — knew the client was buying art for his own enjoyment, according to the lawsuit. She arranged to have some pieces installed at his Manhattan apartment, and she and some coworkers went there to see a $5.7 million Basquiat painting he bought via Sotheby’s in 2012.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p data-reader-unique-id="18" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; max-width: 100%; text-size-adjust: auto;">The collector, sometimes through Porsal Equities, bought $27 million worth of artwork through Sotheby’s tax-free from 2010 to 2015, thanks to the resale certificates, the lawsuit said.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p data-reader-unique-id="19" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; max-width: 100%; text-size-adjust: auto;">Among the purchases was a $1.4 million piece by Kapoor, whose work includes the stainless steel sculpture known as The Bean in Chicago’s Millennium Park. Sales tax on the collector’s 2010 Kapoor purchase alone would total over $126,000, according to the lawsuit.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p data-reader-unique-id="6" style="caret-color: rgb(27, 27, 27); color: #1b1b1b; font-family: -apple-system-font; max-width: 100%; text-size-adjust: auto;">It seeks unspecified damages and penalties the state said.<br /><br /><i>(Source: apnews.com)</i></p><div><br /></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-23215681718910871822016-08-31T01:46:00.000-07:002016-09-19T04:56:50.383-07:00Yet another Fake at Christies NY September 2016 Indian art auction?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Ahead of Christie’s New York auction of what it claims is a KK Hebbar masterpiece, carrying a ‘Cadell Road’ scribble, aficionados are pointing to a strikingly similar painting hanging in a Hyderabad museum and asking: Why would an artist make two identical paintings? Is one of them a fake?</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="border: 0px; line-height: 25px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If there are two identical paintings, then is it possible that an artist could have made both? Or is one a fake for sure?</span></div><div style="border: 0px; line-height: 25px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These are the questions surrounding an artwork by the late artist Kattingeri Krishna Hebbar (better known as KK Hebbar) that international auction house Christie’s will put under the hammer in New York on September 14. Titled ‘Sunshine’ and signed by the artist, the oil on canvas work is part of this auction as Lot No 686 and estimated to fetch somewhere between Rs 6 lakh and Rs 10 lakh. As it turns out, however, the Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad owns a piece that is almost identical. The painting hangs in the national museum’s contemporary and modern art gallery and is called by a different name — ‘Peacock’.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MGE4oFvKfMBJPSMTOgWQWhGEQGHfQvRfhe1_oP2TlJBMOVQTTf1Yw1DMGiEm4SdZGDj1FN9s1O70hdS0LOTf0xf6RsG3u_eOCrsQy9Syjpdg7o2ZzZDLPAsDeHLGfdl4Jz_eH0BIH0kj/s1600/Hebbar-christies-fake-india-art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MGE4oFvKfMBJPSMTOgWQWhGEQGHfQvRfhe1_oP2TlJBMOVQTTf1Yw1DMGiEm4SdZGDj1FN9s1O70hdS0LOTf0xf6RsG3u_eOCrsQy9Syjpdg7o2ZzZDLPAsDeHLGfdl4Jz_eH0BIH0kj/s400/Hebbar-christies-fake-india-art.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">The one above, being auctioned by Christie’s, is signed ‘Hebbar 83’ and inscribed with the words “Sunshine/ 81 Cadell Road, Bombay - 16” on the reverse. The one below is at Hyderabad’s Salar Jung museum.</span><br /></span></span><br /><div style="border: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"></div><span style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-variant-caps: inherit;">The matter came to light on Thursday, with a social media post from a member of Mumbai’s art fraternity. It compared the Christie’s artwork to its twin from Salar Jung and raised important questions on authentication of artworks.</span></span></span></div><span style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><a name='more'></a><br /><div style="border: 0px; line-height: 25px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The painting shows a peacock with its neck outstretched, is signed ‘Hebbar 83’ and inscribed with the words “Sunshine/81 Cadell Road, Bombay - 16” on the reverse. The work, supposed to have been painted in 1983, was exhibited last week at a New Delhi preview exhibition of ten works from India that would feature at the New York sale.</span></div><div style="border: 0px; line-height: 25px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Interestingly, the social media post also pointed out that the Salar Jung piece is bigger than the Christie’s piece. Sunshine is 33 cm x 76.2 cm in dimension; the one housed in the Salar Jung — the only Hebbar work that the museum owns — is 210cm x 88.5cm, almost six feet long.</span></div><div style="border: 0px; line-height: 25px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Director of Salar Jung Museum, Dr A Nagendra Reddy, said that Peacock had been bought directly by them in 1966. “It was acquired by the purchase committee and we have had no contact with the artist since,” he said. Records of Peacock on the government’s museum portal states that the painting dates back to 1963 and is a “contemporary painting depicting a peacock in blue, black, purple, green and yellow colours in a wooden frame”.</span></div><div style="border: 0px; line-height: 25px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">That sounds a lot like Christie’s Sunshine. Could Hebbar then have painted two such works in different sizes? Perhaps Sunshine was meant as a smaller sketch or study for the larger artwork, Peacock?</span></div><div style="border: 0px; line-height: 25px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Hebbar’s daughter, artist Rekha Hebbar Rao, thinks that is very unlikely. On taking a close look at images of both works along with members of her family, Rekha said, “While I have seen my father make similar works, I have never seen an identical work by him.”</span></div><div style="border: 0px; line-height: 25px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The KK Hebbar Art Foundation, Rekha continued, has drawings and sketches by her father, none of which look like the one with Christie’s. “It is doubtful if the Christie’s work is an original one. The signature on Sunshine doesn’t quite match my father’s despite how it changed over the years. Moreover, the colours on it seem too bright and the brushstrokes unlike his style,” she added.</span></div><div style="border: 0px; line-height: 25px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Peacock was probably made by her father after he returned to Mumbai from his stint at the MS Baroda University, said Rekha. He was enamoured by the local fauna in and around the campus and made a series of such works, one of which also features a white peacock.</span></div><div style="border: 0px; line-height: 25px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">“The address on the reverse [81 Cadell Road, Bombay — 16] was something only my father would have known, since it was our old address. However, I cannot confirm if the piece with Christie’s is authentic or not unless I see it in person,” she said.</span></div></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border: 0px; color: #444444; line-height: 25px; outline: none; padding: 0px 0px 15px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">(Source: Mid-Day, 27th August 2016)</span></i></div></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-70556976676022403112016-07-14T01:35:00.000-07:002016-09-19T04:56:50.397-07:00Bid & Hammer strikes back<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><strong style="border: none; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A resurgent Bid & Hammer emerges as the true crusader against fakes in the Indian art market. Team Viva does a review</span></strong><br /><strong style="border: none; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></strong><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAWTUjM1AjFnTs3bYDee8my5mjimy_EWZoDh1IMK5G68ur6n62o2XPg1MI6sXkXSO8FtxJhfftxsEMYl8PtzbbUaCENEGcE-_xZ5BTG25-eIRlx0TxLhm1GP6Er8QpmYx_BFfxnn6xmlr/s1600/Namrata-Shirodkar-Husain-BidandHammer-genuine-art.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAWTUjM1AjFnTs3bYDee8my5mjimy_EWZoDh1IMK5G68ur6n62o2XPg1MI6sXkXSO8FtxJhfftxsEMYl8PtzbbUaCENEGcE-_xZ5BTG25-eIRlx0TxLhm1GP6Er8QpmYx_BFfxnn6xmlr/s320/Namrata-Shirodkar-Husain-BidandHammer-genuine-art.gif" width="254" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An original M F Husain painting <br />from Namrata Shirodkar's collection</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border: none; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It has been two years since Bid & Hammer’s <em style="border: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Significant Indian Art</em> auction in New Delhi that created quite a stir in the art fraternity with business rivals and art critics associated with them rancorously crying out “fakes” regarding some of the paintings in the catalogue. For all their noise about starting a “regulatory body for art”, “writing to the PMO” and in case of the Husain & Raza Foundations, avariciously proclaiming themselves to be “sole authenticating bodies”, the campaign was full of rhetoric and eventually withered away as most of the trade smelled foul play and didn’t want to be part of a propaganda by a few individuals whose sales were being effected by Bid & Hammer’s steady prowess. Curiously, none of them had physically inspected the works nor seen the provenance documents, coming as they were from notable estates and collections of Udaychand Mahtab (the Maharaja of Burdwan), artist Hemendranath Mazumder, artist Nandalal Bose, sculpturist Chandan Malakar (an assistant of D P Roy Chowdhury), freedom fighter Radha Devi Goenka and former Miss India and actress Namrata Shirodkar among others.</span></div><div style="border: none; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Commenting on the resulting media frenzy at the time, Maher Dadha, CMD of Bid & Hammer, said, “The articles were alarmingly false and evidently fabricated, written to create sensational news and scuttle the success of our auction. We stood by our research and the media at the behest of competitors should not have speculated on the unquestionable authenticity of the artworks without any verification. The real cartels and tainted individuals that pass off fakes as genuine are the ones that need to be exposed and we will leave no stone unturned in doing so for the higher interest of Indian art”. </span></div><a name='more'></a><br /><div style="border: none; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To prove the point, the auction house, promoted by the Dadha family with a rich business history of over 100 years, trail blazed through the auction and subsequently initiated legal action against all those suspected to have orchestrated and stoked the unfounded controversy.</span></div><div style="border: none; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Those brought in the dock so far with non-bailable arrest warrants are Dadiba Pundole of Pundoles Auction, Vikram Bacchawat of defunct auction portal Emami Chisel, art restorer Ganesh Pratap Singh, Samindranath Mazumder and famous artist Bikash Bhattacarya’s children Bivas and Balaka. Others against whom legal suits have been filed include Ashish Anand of Delhi Art Gallery, Vadehra Gallery, Husain Foundation, Raza Foundation and a few incongruous proponents of the Bengal School. Also, K S Radhakrishnan, an authority on the works of Ramkinkar Baij, has denied making observations on the catalogued watercolour as was fictitiously reported by the media. So has NGMA director Rajeev Lochan with regard to the Nandalal Bose’s painting titled <em style="border: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Woman Sitting Under A Tree.</em> Even artist KK Hebbar’s daughters Rekha Rao and Rajani Prasanna are wholeheartedly supporting the cause of Bid & Hammer.</span></div><div style="border: none; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kaali Sudheer of Muse Art Gallery said, “No company would put their reputation at stake by offering fakes in an open public auction and certainly not Bid & Hammer with their background and formidable knowledge. It’s high time that these self-anointed authenticators of art realise that it is them that are being subject to a public undressing as has been demonstrated in the court proceedings”. Bid & Hammer’s landmark victory in the Ravi Varma <em style="border: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Jatayu Vadha</em> (Ravana carrying Sita) painting authenticity case against Kiran Nadar, wife of HCL Technologies founder Shiv Nadar, further proved that the country’s pioneer multi-category auction house has the most robust vetting and authentication process and it is the true crusader against the menace of fakes in the Indian market.</span></div><div style="border: none; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is precisely why the cloud shrouding the authenticity of Francis Newton Souza’s iconic <em style="border: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Mary Magdalene </em>painting (from the November 2010 auction catalogue) also seems to have disappeared as it emerges that works combining three or even four different composite pictures were indeed a unique part of the artist’s oeuvre. An example being a work titled <em style="border: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Birth, </em>with a ditto theme, incidentally bought by Kiran Nadar a few months ago at a record-breaking price.</span></div><div style="border: none; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When requested to elaborate on the authentication process that is followed by the auction house, Maher Dadha said, “There are certain basic principles and procedures that need to be adhered to before determining whether a work is genuine or counterfeit. The level of the expert’s knowledge and competence and his ability to justify his opinion is important. The problem arises when two equally qualified experts have diametrically opposing views on the same subject or artist, in which case a committee approach and provenance becomes all-important.”</span></div><div style="border: none; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As the fight against fakes continues, it is business as usual at the auction house with the team working on the upcoming auction, private treaty sales and the recently launched B&H SHOP (www.bnhshop.com) — an online store for affordable art, antiques, jewellery, prints, furniture, home décor, exciting gifts and collectibles. Ankush Dadha, director of Bid & Hammer, said, “In between auctions, we are continuing to engage our patrons and catering to a new collector base through this venture that does not involve the formalities of an auction. No bids, no registration, the works are available at a flat price and you don’t lose the advantage of buying through us”.</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="border: none; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"></strong></span><br /><div style="border: none; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The stakes at Bid & Hammer’s upcoming auction are huge, having sourced rare oils by Manjit Bawa, NS Bendre, MF Husain, SH Raza, Jehangir Sabavala, Bhupen Khakhar, VS Gaitonde, GR Santosh, Amrita Shergil and also Ravi Varma from major collectors, both in India and abroad, who continue to support the auction house. Charu Sharma, board member of Bid & Hammer and one of India’s most popular auctioneers, stated, “With this lineup of artists and superlative quality of the masterpieces our next auction is undoubtedly going to be a path-breaking one.”</span></div><div style="border: none; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>(Source: The Pioneer, 8th July 2016)</i></span></div></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-73989510738224408682016-07-01T00:21:00.000-07:002016-09-19T04:56:50.408-07:00Vikram Bachhawat, Dadiba Pundole and Samindranath Majumdar in the dock in Fake Art case<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h3 style="text-align: left;">Antiquated in august light</h3><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Monsoon Edition of the Art + Antiques Show is back at the Whitefield venue of Bid & Hammer. As soon as one enters the expansive premises, you are enamoured by the sheer number of artworks and collectibles on display.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">The very English sounding theme adds to the charm and you are transported into the weekend county markets of England, where you can buy from a selection of quality period furniture, curios, lamp shades, vintage photos, lithographs and ephemera from the days of yore.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">What’s more, one can also pick up artworks of contemporary Indian artists and printmakers such as SG Vasudev, Yusuf Arakkal, Jyoti Bhatt, R Raja and Vijay Bagodi among others besides admiring works of the modern Indian masters that are to be featured in the upcoming auction — these include rare oils by Manjit Bawa, MF Husain, SH Raza, Bhupen Khakhar, GR Santosh and also the Bengal School stalwarts such as Rabindranath Tagore, Gaganendranath Tagore and Nandalal Bose to name a few. It is pertinent to revisit the last auction that created quite a stir and eventually proved that the country’s pioneer multi-category auctioneer has the most robust vetting and authentication process.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">The moment you enter this silent yet artistic setup in Whitefield, you get a sense of royalty. Exotic lamps, antiques dating back to centuries and exquisite artworks showcase the elaborate and phenomenal collection that has been amassed over several years of mastery.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">Speaking of their previous auctions and the passion to exhibit authentic art, they have a team of art scholars, backed by the Dadha family, who legally established that business rivals who hoarsely cried “fakes” about unquestionably genuine art works cannot take away the veracity through a media campaign alone.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLPm5HCB7YBZAjQOlt_r7EC9HLDBJub7_YHCkHXydFNfjgufidbJ_69PUXPwirnctNKL9M2GmtYsxAU9OCsQ2IZqbvpFvcqDEuI4KnGPYscwADDBBDmwxYMk9dxI-FfmDNc7dRdG8uA67/s1600/Vikram-Bachhawat-fake-art-arrest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLPm5HCB7YBZAjQOlt_r7EC9HLDBJub7_YHCkHXydFNfjgufidbJ_69PUXPwirnctNKL9M2GmtYsxAU9OCsQ2IZqbvpFvcqDEuI4KnGPYscwADDBBDmwxYMk9dxI-FfmDNc7dRdG8uA67/s200/Vikram-Bachhawat-fake-art-arrest.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpNcu-kmg7NAKdR8wix62CmHaVuXlsmk1DsMJl7_YLAs1ALyyLjmXTAB4X5ZY9QRYAsRImPeA2oqcF3hcI7bfJcgPJqK2wLIhn23zEpxezmjPQcLFn_lYDtMkedjXn1pkOkK0qHU2C6p2/s1600/Dadiba-Pundole-auction-fake-art-case.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpNcu-kmg7NAKdR8wix62CmHaVuXlsmk1DsMJl7_YLAs1ALyyLjmXTAB4X5ZY9QRYAsRImPeA2oqcF3hcI7bfJcgPJqK2wLIhn23zEpxezmjPQcLFn_lYDtMkedjXn1pkOkK0qHU2C6p2/s200/Dadiba-Pundole-auction-fake-art-case.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Those brought in the dock include Dadiba Pundole, Vikram Bacchawat and Samindranath Majumdar against whom warrants have been issued. </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">As the auctioneers pursue cases against the other perpetrators, with the aim of preventing cartels from manipulating the art market in the future, one will have to wait awhile for their next auction.</span></div></span><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div><br /><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Until then, not to be weighed down by these tussles, amidst a frantic schedule of shortlisting consignments and negotiating private sales, Ankush Dadha, director of the auction house, also launched bnhshop.com, an online store for curated home decor and jewellery that will compliment the physical show at Whitefield.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">Speaking about the same he said, “In between auctions, we wish to continue engaging our patrons and catering to a new collector base through these endeavours that do not involve the formalities of an auction. No bids, no registration, the works are available at a flat price and you don't lose the advantage of buying through us.”</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">The expansive art collectible space with a marvelous collection is sure to enthrall antiques lovers. Drop into the space to experience the aesthetics of antiques and limited edition art.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">Every Weekend until July 17, at 11 Whitefield Main Road.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The writer is an art curator and art expert.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>(Source: Harish Kumar Sejekan, Deccan Chronicle, 18th June 2016) </i></span></div></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-42683558993706091852016-06-30T11:00:00.000-07:002016-09-19T04:56:50.419-07:00HC to hear plea on irregularities in National Gallery of Modern Art<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; outline: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">NEW DELHI: A plea was moved in Delhi High Court on Wednesday seeking direction to the Centre to investigate the irregularities allegedly caused by the officers of the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) here.</div></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; outline: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; outline: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The plea, filed by a social worker, came up for hearing before a vacation bench of justices V. Kameswar Rao and I.S. Mehta, who fixed the matter for hearing on July 13. Petitioner Sharad Tiwari, in his plea filed through advocate Sugriva Dubey, stated that the NGMA, a sprawling complex at the India Gate roundabout, is not being managed properly and there was a threat that the costly items preserved there could be stolen.</div></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; outline: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; outline: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Mr. Tiwari claimed that even after the findings of an audit, the Ministry of Culture and the NGMA have not taken any action in respect of the irregularities pointed out by the Auditor General, whose report has been kept in abeyance allegedly at the instance of some persons, who are close to top bureaucrats of the ministry under which the art gallery is maintained.</div></div><div id="inarticle_wrapper_div" style="border: 0px; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; outline: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“The details of the audit report for the year 2012-13, 2013-14 have not been given and the same have been concealed,” the plea said.</div></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; outline: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; outline: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The NGMA is the premier art gallery under the Centre. The main museum at Jaipur House was established on March 29, 1954, with subsequent branches at Mumbai and Bangalore.</div></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; outline: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Its collection of more than 14,000 items includes works by renowned artists including Rabindranath Tagore. Some of the oldest works preserved here date back to 1857. The Delhi branch is one of the world’s largest modern art museums. — PTI</div></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; outline: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; outline: 0px;"><i>(Source: The Hindu, 30th June 2016)</i></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; outline: 0px;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; outline: 0px;">Related Posts:</div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; outline: 0px;">1. <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/ngma-delhi-director-rajiv-lochan-quits-office/articleshow/52991731.cms" target="_blank">NGMA Delhi director Rajiv Lochan quits office: Economic Times, 30th June 2016 </a></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; outline: 0px;"><br /></div></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-49619234943747382652016-04-20T07:26:00.000-07:002016-09-19T04:56:50.430-07:00Fake art alert at Astaguru auction<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPjoPJ7nmnDfH1MBA9MOQ3e5B9bVtU5cR0e9CGCS3pQM9D4Tc6WZ6-nhd9hJWPZk9BS7hfEPCt1wH7njLSRXiVF2C4yoScxD7rAiiM7gYO0dmTvGgmdJh_VHPGNv4N_R9kAeMWFkQj1t5/s1600/MANJIT-BAWA-Fake-art-Astaguru-auction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPjoPJ7nmnDfH1MBA9MOQ3e5B9bVtU5cR0e9CGCS3pQM9D4Tc6WZ6-nhd9hJWPZk9BS7hfEPCt1wH7njLSRXiVF2C4yoScxD7rAiiM7gYO0dmTvGgmdJh_VHPGNv4N_R9kAeMWFkQj1t5/s320/MANJIT-BAWA-Fake-art-Astaguru-auction.jpg" width="234" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manjit Bawa fake at Astaguru, Lot 45<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "lato"; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif;">After a Dubai-based art gallery owner challenged the authenticity of a Manjit Bawa painting, which was to have been on sale as part of auction house AstaGuru’s online Modern Art Auction, the work in question was withdrawn from the sale by the auctioneer. The online auction, which began Monday, is scheduled to go on till 8 pm. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif;">n a statement sent over email, Vickram Sethi, chairman of AstaGuru.com said, “The painting has been withdrawn from the auction as a matter of abundant caution and that does not mean that the painting is a fake…It is normal practice with auction houses across the world to withdraw works on which a doubt has been raised.” The painting under question is an untitled oil on canvas work from 2001 and belongs to Harsh Singh, owner of Delhi-based Progressive Art Gallery.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif;"><i>(Source: Manju Pillai, The Indian Express, 22nd March 2016)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif;">Related Posts:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif;">1. </span><a href="http://indialegalonline.com/the-great-indian-rip-off/" target="_blank">The Great Indian Rip-off: India Legal, 18 April 2016</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-46611797087501251592016-03-12T05:36:00.000-08:002016-09-19T04:56:50.441-07:00Feds Recover Stolen Indian Antiquities from auction house Christies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; float: none; line-height: 1.70588; margin-bottom: 1.17647em; max-width: 680px; padding: 0px 15px; position: static; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">11 March 2016:</span></b> Two valuable Indian sandstone sculptures dating back to the eighth century were <a href="https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-recovers-stolen-indian-artifacts-major-auction-house-ahead-asia-week-new-york" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4774cc; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">seized by federal agents</a> just days before they were scheduled to be sold at Christie's, a New York auction house, o<span style="font-family: inherit;">n 15 March 2016 in an auction titled </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“The Lahiri Collection: Indian and Himalayan Art, Ancient and Modern"</span></span></span></div></div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; float: none; line-height: 1.70588; margin-bottom: 1.17647em; max-width: 680px; padding: 0px 15px; position: static; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">NPR's Hansi Lo Wang reports that together, the statues are valued at almost a half-million dollars.<span style="color: #444444; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit;">"One dates back to eighth-century India and is a rare depiction of a Hindu god and his entourage on horseback. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit;">"The other — believed to be made in the tenth century — shows a Hindu teacher flanked by two attendants.</span><span style="color: #444444; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit;">"Together, they're valued at almost a half-million dollars."</span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnpJcdf0t-cSvwPT9Vsqcpyvz_alsquNraLXt4mDGEqWk9d6_MO8M_mdqYwUP4i0Qx3YZiBY478_NUB1cOiLRP_QIxY9Nqyt6boGoJdsgjRdR6xpQV3WwcfnKDvs7zeUw_ppPbWao8QXl/s1600/Christies+Fake+Indian+Art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnpJcdf0t-cSvwPT9Vsqcpyvz_alsquNraLXt4mDGEqWk9d6_MO8M_mdqYwUP4i0Qx3YZiBY478_NUB1cOiLRP_QIxY9Nqyt6boGoJdsgjRdR6xpQV3WwcfnKDvs7zeUw_ppPbWao8QXl/s320/Christies+Fake+Indian+Art.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="caption-text" style="color: #666666; font-family: , "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; text-align: start;">A sandstone stele of Rishabhanata from the 10th century India, believed to have been stolen, was seized by the federal authorities in a raid of Christie’s today as part of an international investigation into a former gallery owner.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif;"> </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder" style="color: #999999; display: inline-block; font-family: , "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 0.6875rem; line-height: 1rem;"><span class="visually-hidden" style="border: 0px; clip: rect(0px, 0px, 0px, 0px); height: 1px; margin: -1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 1px;">Credit</span>Department of Homeland Security</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; float: none; line-height: 1.70588; margin-bottom: 1.17647em; max-width: 680px; padding: 0px 15px; position: static; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Agents of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations say the statues were recovered as part of an ongoing initiative called Operation Hidden Idol, which focuses on "activities surrounding the illicit cultural property trade in New York." Both stolen items came from a smuggler of looted antiquities. According to court documents, investigators found an unlabeled computer disc in a Manhattan storage facility in 2012, with a folder labeled "Shantoo" that contained images of stolen antiquities and names of dealers.</span></div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; float: none; line-height: 1.70588; margin-bottom: 1.17647em; max-width: 680px; padding: 0px 15px; position: static; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><a name='more'></a><br /><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; float: none; line-height: 1.70588; margin-bottom: 1.17647em; max-width: 680px; padding: 0px 15px; position: static; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A person was charged in connection with the disc, and after pleading guilty to criminal possession of stolen property and related charges, that person became an informant for the investigation. An affidavit by a federal agent says the informant said "Shantoo" was a nickname for Ranjeet Kanwat, a "known smuggler" from India, and one of the main suppliers of stolen artifacts for Subhash Kapoor, who is currently awaiting extradition to New York in connection with more than $100 million in stolen antiquities.</span></div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; float: none; line-height: 1.70588; margin-bottom: 1.17647em; max-width: 680px; padding: 0px 15px; position: static; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das, consul general of India, praised the recovery of the ancient statues.</span></div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; float: none; line-height: 1.70588; margin-bottom: 1.17647em; max-width: 680px; padding: 0px 15px; position: static; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"My congratulations to all of the special agents of HSI New York, who have painstakingly and diligently undertaken these complex and time consuming investigations," he said.</span></div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; float: none; line-height: 1.70588; margin-bottom: 1.17647em; max-width: 680px; padding: 0px 15px; position: static; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Christie's auction house said it had no knowledge that the statues were stolen.</span></div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; float: none; line-height: 1.70588; margin-bottom: 1.17647em; max-width: 680px; padding: 0px 15px; position: static; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Christie's devotes considerable resources to investigating the provenance of all objects we offer for sale. Under no circumstance would Christie's knowingly offer a work of art where there are valid concerns over provenance," the auction house said in a statement. "This is one of the difficulties the art market faces in vetting antiquities, which is why Christie's very much values building strong relationships with and between countries of origin, law enforcement, archaeologists, and the collecting community."</span></div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; float: none; line-height: 1.70588; margin-bottom: 1.17647em; max-width: 680px; padding: 0px 15px; position: static; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Christie's had been planning to auction the statues during Asia Week New York. Now it has removed them from the list of items for sale and is cooperating with investigators.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1ZLd_awbKiYKa1YHJQqODIBuawFpo90WbyENPooZsh7CW-3RUIecFiAgHrzxFASSED7fyajvByAWSvxi2qFcqu2vKqYmuHEj8VpygboseMHc2gzVrfhL0mM3iJPOpHWWxytLTwOBpbH8/s1600/Christies-Art-Crime-India.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1ZLd_awbKiYKa1YHJQqODIBuawFpo90WbyENPooZsh7CW-3RUIecFiAgHrzxFASSED7fyajvByAWSvxi2qFcqu2vKqYmuHEj8VpygboseMHc2gzVrfhL0mM3iJPOpHWWxytLTwOBpbH8/s320/Christies-Art-Crime-India.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stolen lots were to be auctioned at Rockefeller Plaza, New York on 15 March 2016</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; float: none; line-height: 1.70588; margin-bottom: 1.17647em; max-width: 680px; padding: 0px 15px; position: static; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An ICE spokesperson said the antiquities "will be repatriated to the government of India" though no date has been set for their return.</span></div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; float: none; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.7rem; line-height: 1.70588; margin-bottom: 1.17647em; max-width: 680px; padding: 0px 15px; position: static; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; widows: 1;">(Source: Laura Wagner, npr.org, 11 March 2016)</i></div></div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; float: none; font-size: 1.7rem; line-height: 1.70588; margin-bottom: 1.17647em; max-width: 680px; padding: 0px 15px; position: static; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div style="font-family: georgia, serif; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; widows: 1;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px; font-style: normal; line-height: 18.48px;">Related Posts:</span></i></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px; font-style: normal; line-height: 18.48px;">1. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/12/arts/design/federal-agents-raid-christies-seizing-2-ancient-sculptures.html" style="color: #7c93a1; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Federal Agents Raid Christies, seizing 2 Ancient Indian Sculptures - NY Times, 11 March 2016</a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.2px;">2. <span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://news.artnet.com/market/christies-antiquities-sale-looted-dagger-389456" style="color: #7c93a1; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span id="goog_2102608171"></span>Christies withdraws potentially looted dagger from Antiquities Auction - ArtNet News, 10 Dec 2015</a></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.2px; font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.2px; font-style: normal; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /><span style="color: #333333;"></span></span></span></div></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-26670938920066497362015-12-19T01:00:00.000-08:002016-09-19T04:56:50.453-07:00Fakes of Raza & Swaminathan at Christies auction?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h3 style="text-align: left;">Christies on the unsold Raza: 'Yes, it was a disappointment'</h3><b><br /></b><b>17 December 2015:</b> 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.<br /><br />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."<br /><br />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'.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7UyBnZffqHa8UfYnRqLGjTP0VI9YedtHqFXf3PHfwPUPMT93rwpNzWi9aPMNE1yspvgz0qF1mWutl_YrR63-3d40sFhVUIe2xOoCbaU6TpMu3obk18mpaKmdEcvDq-V3wShPrrz_zTjv/s1600/Raza+Bindu+-+christies+fake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7UyBnZffqHa8UfYnRqLGjTP0VI9YedtHqFXf3PHfwPUPMT93rwpNzWi9aPMNE1yspvgz0qF1mWutl_YrR63-3d40sFhVUIe2xOoCbaU6TpMu3obk18mpaKmdEcvDq-V3wShPrrz_zTjv/s1600/Raza+Bindu+-+christies+fake.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raza's 1983 Bindu, Oil - touted to be fake</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0T1FucvD3uWZSCmidOc00VTW7Sk1tnM8Zh_xe24F9HKd23QNa1jW8QL89EZBMutSaOU5Yvz74Z7wuzhDElylj8oS-qaWyKOteyg175vgvoQ3yCOchrbsJOgeC1ONafTAIcxGyWMkm2gSl/s1600/christies+swaminathan+fake+art+india+auction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0T1FucvD3uWZSCmidOc00VTW7Sk1tnM8Zh_xe24F9HKd23QNa1jW8QL89EZBMutSaOU5Yvz74Z7wuzhDElylj8oS-qaWyKOteyg175vgvoQ3yCOchrbsJOgeC1ONafTAIcxGyWMkm2gSl/s1600/christies+swaminathan+fake+art+india+auction.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">J Swaminathan's 1988, untitled - fake or authentic?<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />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."<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqes3DGEh38da5Ltbi-NOs2xcAZM-LynlnuIdo09PLA97VXnt6bc1Tpg_RMVAgn0N7epeAslPtxPnN5XVIWPDy2d049rPA-jdqbIQ_QtKnrW_qxEy2ofKkNM8wbz4Xw4D87lIJsL9IyeWj/s1600/william+robinson+christies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqes3DGEh38da5Ltbi-NOs2xcAZM-LynlnuIdo09PLA97VXnt6bc1Tpg_RMVAgn0N7epeAslPtxPnN5XVIWPDy2d049rPA-jdqbIQ_QtKnrW_qxEy2ofKkNM8wbz4Xw4D87lIJsL9IyeWj/s1600/william+robinson+christies.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">William Robinson</td></tr></tbody></table><i><br /></i><i>(Source: Economic Times, 17 December 2015, masoom.gupte@timesgroup.com)</i><br /><br />Related Posts:<br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. <a href="http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/dubai-art-house-claims-paintings-at-christies-auction-fake/1/547096.html" target="_blank">Dubai art house claims paintings at Christies auction fake - Business Standard, 14 Dec, 2015</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><a href="http://in.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/1298060/gaitonde-record-an-unsold-raza-at-christies-mumbai-sale" target="_blank"><span id="goog_2102608171"></span>Gaitonde Record & An Unsold Raza at Christie’s Mumbai Sale - Blouinartinfo, 16 Dec 2015</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-weight: 600;"> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_2102608172"></span></a></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-weight: 600;">3. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.freepressjournal.in/christies-rubbishes-fake-claim-by-art-house" target="_blank">Christies's denies 'fake' claim by art house - FPJ, 16 Dec 2015</a></span></span></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-39333164877787226212015-12-10T23:00:00.000-08:002016-09-19T04:56:50.464-07:00Legal notice to auction house Christies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Mystery of a Missing Gaitonde: <strong style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14px;">CHRISTIE'S IN TROUBLE - TAKEN POSSESSION OF FOR AN NY AUCTION, NO SIGN OF AN OIL-ON-CANVAS FOR FOUR YEARS NOW</strong></h3><div style="text-align: justify;"><em style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14px;">Collector and JJ School of Arts graduate files a police complaint; alleges an attempt to usurp the painting worth crores.</em></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;">10 December 2015:</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"> An artist and a JJ School of Arts graduate has filed a police complaint against Christie's for not returning a Gaintonde oil-on-canvas the auction house took possession of in 2011 with a promise to put it up for sale in New York. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The artist, Delhi-based Durga Kainthola, has said in her complaint that she has been demanding the painting back for four years now but all she has got so far from Christie's is evasive answers. At least three legal notices she sent to the auction house too have not elicited any response. </span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kainthola, a post-graduate from M S University, Vadodra, last week approached the Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi police and lodged a complaint against Christie's India Private Limited, which has its head office in Mumbai. </span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKTfIiq_ZoeotBHv4DfLdWg5iFiIIpRbzQzMcAKD-27rL9QrEFeqMTdjGYARCN1al0m4D0Dd3C9PeyZW0BBWVZYc4TdSnqcNvZwQ-eOvlQcxj4OvcCoKqGMyzjxzc0elI23RtzyCHBdOK/s1600/Durga+Kainthola.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKTfIiq_ZoeotBHv4DfLdWg5iFiIIpRbzQzMcAKD-27rL9QrEFeqMTdjGYARCN1al0m4D0Dd3C9PeyZW0BBWVZYc4TdSnqcNvZwQ-eOvlQcxj4OvcCoKqGMyzjxzc0elI23RtzyCHBdOK/s320/Durga+Kainthola.png" width="263" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;">The complaint, a copy of which is available with Mumbai Mirror, says that Kainthola and her husband handed over the painting to Christie's in 2011 for sale at an auction in New York. This had followed an approach made by the auction house in 2010 to let it lead the 60 inches-by-40 inches painting's auction abroad. A 'consignment agreement' was signed by the two parties on February 7, 2011. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kainthola's complaint at EOW filed through her lawyer K C Jha says that she first became suspicious after the auction house did not display the painting in the preview exhibition of the South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art held on March 23, 2011 at New York. </span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When Kainthola wrote to Christie's demanding to know why the painting was not put out in the preview show despite it having left India on March 4 giving the auction house ample time to display it, there was no response from their end. </span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKochyphenhyphenP8XhRsDjJQaGlsBCtdl-DL-RiPu6sMA_Li0PPT3Kmk9quS5gbx5o1wrOcIzaw46182vBLxYc_hq4Kbvvnh3nXFvvTuKVaCvKfHzHOSNSVdir12fnj2Jhq0_RsMeWHi4vDSwlyUuC/s1600/sonal+singh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKochyphenhyphenP8XhRsDjJQaGlsBCtdl-DL-RiPu6sMA_Li0PPT3Kmk9quS5gbx5o1wrOcIzaw46182vBLxYc_hq4Kbvvnh3nXFvvTuKVaCvKfHzHOSNSVdir12fnj2Jhq0_RsMeWHi4vDSwlyUuC/s1600/sonal+singh.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sonal Singh</td></tr></tbody></table></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kainthola's complaint says the painting did not even get a bid at its reserve price at the auction mainly because it was not there at the preview show when potential buyers size up the artworks on display and decide what they will bid for and how far they will go to bag it. </span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On the Pundole Art Gallery website, an untitled work of Gaitonde of similar dimensions as that of the painting Kainthola gave to Christie's is estimated to be worth anywhere between Rs 9 crore to Rs 15 crore. </span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Following the New York fiasco, Kainthola and her husband asked for the painting to be returned to them. At this point, Christie's requested a little more time and promised to conduct a private sale for it. "The vice-president called several times from New York and pleaded that the painting be allowed to be taken to London for a successful sale at the South Asian Modern & Contemporary Art, Lot 70, scheduled for June 9 the same year. And they took the painting to London without my or my husband's consent," Kainthola says in her complaint. </span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><a name='more'></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The response at the London auction too was less than encouraging. Disillusioned, the Kaintholas wrote to the auction house that the painting be sent back to their residence in Delhi as soon as possible. It's been more than two years since and Christie's has not only not returned the artwork, but have also failed to give the Kaintholas any convincing reply on its whereabouts. "Their malafide intention is clear that Christie's wants to grab this precious painting," the complaint says. </span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In August 2015, Kainthola started a legal process against the auction house. Three legal notices since have not been responded to and the only response given to her once has been that the matter has been referred to Christie's legal department. </span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When Mumbai Mirror contacted Christie's, its India head Sonal Singh in an email reply said: "We understand that this complaint concerns a work of art by Vasudeo S Gaitonde, owned by the complainant and which they consigned for sale at Christie's New York in 2011. Christie's takes all complaints very seriously and will investigate thoroughly before responding any further to external requests." </span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Christie's are scheduled to have their second auction in India in Mumbai on December 11 where the sale will be led by masterpieces from leading figures of Indian art including Tyeb Mehta, Jehangir Sabavala and Bhupen Khakhar. </span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Speaking for Kainthola, her lawyer said: "It is rather unfortunate that my clients have had such a sad experience with an international auction house of such repute. We have started the legal process to get the painting back from them. The matter is now sub-judice, hence we will not be able to divulge any more details."</span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Source: <a href="http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/cover-story/The-mystery-of-a-missing-Gaitonde/articleshow/50114565.cms" target="_blank">Mumbai Mirror, 10 December 2015</a></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Related Posts:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">1. <a href="http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-govt-may-take-legal-action-against-christie-s-1106886" style="color: #7c93a1; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Govt may take legal action against Christies | DNA | 29 June 2007</a><br />2. <a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/legal-notice-to-christie-s/story-0rglXXIvzMVixMbMKRgk9J.html" style="color: #7c93a1; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Legal notice to Christie's? | Hindustan Times | 30 June 2007</a> </div></div></span></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-41383271819123236172015-09-28T02:00:00.000-07:002016-09-19T04:56:50.476-07:00Are Souza’s prices being buoyed?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqK8T0i3iy9FIFIqEAmTreXNl5RnL_NMxiKcquj_wXzsleFqvHMBDr8iZVk1mrrBxVzvRRDQ5Q9za21rQ80h5AUNAzVBeH_1bTBHefd88AhvETaoZ6TB80q1Tok_6xpscNGHeFH_C48frR/s1600/Birth+-+souza+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqK8T0i3iy9FIFIqEAmTreXNl5RnL_NMxiKcquj_wXzsleFqvHMBDr8iZVk1mrrBxVzvRRDQ5Q9za21rQ80h5AUNAzVBeH_1bTBHefd88AhvETaoZ6TB80q1Tok_6xpscNGHeFH_C48frR/s320/Birth+-+souza+image.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Birth' by F N Souza that sold at $4.1 million at Christies</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #362f2d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px;">An overdose of Agatha Christie novels coupled with an unabashed admiration for Sherlock Holmes has rendered me incorrigibly inclined towards investigation especially when clues are falling like showers of meteors. It is not shrewish suspiciousness but a serious desire to “get to the bottom of it” usually for my own understanding. It has almost become second nature to add up clues to make the larger picture and being proven correct too often has made me more convinced about its veracity. This twitchy nose for news in years of working in journalism, exploring dimensions of the art world has not gone waste: After all, one can figure out whether the rice is cooked by the proverbial single grain of rice.</div><div style="color: #362f2d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px;">The reason of these self-congratulatory musings is the recent spate of developments in the art world that has catapulted Francis Newton Souza to center stage in a far bigger way than ever before. It is not as if the cartels that control art have suddenly awoken to the fact he was part of the Progressive Group or that his lines have suddenly become more expressive. The very same art world that shunned his rather explicit nudes as repulsive and obscene is now running after his works with bushels of bucks to grab those same nudes. And interestingly it is not new collectors who are acquiring them, but senior and older investors who have seen </div><div style="color: #362f2d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px;">Souzas floating around for a while. So it makes me wonder if investors have acquired a big cache of his works and want to prop up his prices. </div><a name='more'></a><br /><div style="color: #362f2d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px;">My Sherlock Holmes brain is twitching away for there seems to be an almost orchestrated attempt to buoy up his prices especially in the international arena. Actually it is about time he got his share in the sun, shunned as a pervert for his nudes in his lifetime. I remember in the 90s he had come to meet me in my office with his then muse and companion Shrimati Lal. His cap, smile and intense eyes are vivid in my mind still. </div><div style="color: #362f2d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px;">At the recent Christie’s New York auction Souza sold for a mind boggling $ 4.1 million bought by the Delhi-based Kiran Nadar Museum that is an amazing piece where a woman in labour is seen delivering a child with a still life on a window sill and through the window a landscape can be seen. </div><div style="color: #362f2d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px;">At the Saffronart auction in New Delhi too, the top lot was Souza’s Man and Woman Laughing (1957) that sold for Rs 16,84,00,000 (US$ 2,590,769) breaking all previous records for the artist at auction. Formerly from the collection of Harold Kovner, Souza’s most important patron, it belongs to a particularly vital period of the artist’s career. </div><div style="color: #362f2d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px;">Kovner discovered Souza’s work in 1956 and financially supported the artist to promote his works. The duration of this patronage, which lasted four years, was instrumental in allowing Souza more freedom to paint, and achieve greater creative success than ever before. As a strong modernist Souza’s early work made an impact both in India and abroad. His strong, bold lines delineated the head in a distinctive way where it was virtually re-invented the circles, hatchings and crosses. In later years his forms retained their plasticity but became less inventive.</div><div style="color: #362f2d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px;">The other favourites at the auction remained the evergreen stable buys M.F. Husain and Tyeb Mehta. S.H. Raza’s market seems to be looking up too, after a slump. </div><div style="color: #362f2d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px;">It is auction time again in Delhi with the Artdeal coming up with its autumn auction ‘Framed Sentiment’. This time the most promising attraction is a ceramic bowl by Pablo Picasso, a medium he began experimenting with in 1946 after visiting the Madoura pottery workshop in Vallauris. There are drawings and paintings by modern masters like F.N. Souza, M.F. Husain, S.H. Raza, Ramkumar, Krishen Khanna. The Souza work is a passionately created canvas that emulates a raw energy with its powerful form, a remarkable work of the artist. The auction also boasts of unusual works by celebrated Bengal Masters like some early works by Jamini Roy and letters by Nandalal Bose. </div><div style="color: #362f2d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px;">This time Rajasthani miniatures that are hard to come by will also go under the hammer. These belong to the known schools of miniature art in India such as Nathdwara, Jaipur and Jodhpur, among others. There is one with a beautiful depiction of the battle of Kurukshetra in Jodhpur style; the gold still lustrous despite its age. Another Mewar-style miniature depicting a wedding scene with text describing it is an exemplary artwork of the time. </div><div style="color: #362f2d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px;">For me, only those pieces that are important works from the point of the artists’ journey or those that have an artistic/historic importance or are one of a kind deserve to be part of the auction circuit and not just any work of any artist. And auctions cannot be used as watermarks to decide/position prices. Hope investors and buyers are listening.</div><div style="color: #362f2d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px;">(Source: <a href="http://www.asianage.com/arts/are-souza-s-prices-being-buoyed-023" target="_blank">The Asian Age, 24 September 2015</a>)</div></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-42602893863765255642015-05-22T00:32:00.000-07:002016-09-19T04:56:50.489-07:00Wrong person hampered progress<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNiFLYfnXbDxHLDGjJApYB_TFv55d3O6kTv2sgJ7DiX94mRR07C0XYtEmW_exh-yWbEq0R1WBYAGyTOwfFUV7JUsLRPiViXp_GV_pa5x3Jj-11gXfVYL2IThKROIWDP1695C25EG93lpy/s1600/21LALIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNiFLYfnXbDxHLDGjJApYB_TFv55d3O6kTv2sgJ7DiX94mRR07C0XYtEmW_exh-yWbEq0R1WBYAGyTOwfFUV7JUsLRPiViXp_GV_pa5x3Jj-11gXfVYL2IThKROIWDP1695C25EG93lpy/s400/21LALIT.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #535353; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px; text-align: left;">The new wing of the Lalit Kala Akademi in Lucknow</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="color: #362f2d; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is so easy to blame the government for all the ills that befall us but in the name of autonomy the reins of institutions shouldn’t also be handed over to self-serving, arbitrary and avaricious individuals. The whole point of granting autonomy to those institutions is that they are so significant that they need to work independent of narrow interests. If we choose thieves as chowkidars, who are we to blame? </span></div><div style="color: #362f2d; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The case in point is the unending saga of Lalit Kala Akademi. I attempted to update myself on what was happening there and I yet again stumbled on the proverbial can of worms. I am not surprised that the Ministry of Culture had to sit up and take notice but hopefully the wrongs will soon be righted. I am pained about how choosing a wrong person can set an institution back so badly. Let me start at the beginning.</span></div><div style="color: #362f2d; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The problems started when they chose a tainted and relatively junior bureaucrat (he retired as joint secretary) like Ashok Vajpayee as chairman of LKA. Except his association with S.H. Raza and writing a few desultory catalogue notes I wonder what the locus was for him being appointed to the august body. During his five-year tenure he allegedly played his predictable favourites to dole out whatever benefits could accrue from the LKA, including giving the galleries gratis to commercial galleries during the Commonwealth Games despite noting on the files to the contrary. This resulted in huge loss to the public exchequer, which by the way is yet to be recovered. </span></div><a name='more'></a><br /><div style="color: #362f2d; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the last month of his tenure, he even threw out the secretary of the LKA ostensibly for “not holding the triennial” among a few unproven allegations but the actual agenda was that Vajpayee was interested in another term as chairman. The then ministry mandarins scrapped the orders and the Secretary, Dr Sudhakar Sharma was back in harness. In the intermittent period until the appointment of the new chairman, the vice chairman K.R. Subbanna took over and peace reigned. But it was not to be.</span></div><div style="color: #362f2d; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is rumoured that Ashok Vajpayee lobbied and got K.K. Chakravarty the hot seat to put a veil on his own wrongdoings further his “half-finished” work. While Chakravarty managed to wangle prestigious postings at Manav Sangrahalaya, Bhopal, National Museum, Indira Gandhi Center for Arts and Delhi Institute of Heritage Research and Management in Delhi, unfortunately there are many CVC or CBI investigations on him, including financial mismanagement. Incidentally salary paid to him was in violation of the provisions of the constitution of the DIHRM, registered under the Societies Registration Act – as it was an honorary post.</span></div><div style="color: #362f2d; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At LKA he carved a room within a room to carry on the work of DIHRM. Reliable sources in the LKA allege that he took away a truck load of files when the government took over. In the absence of secretary, vice chairman, general council and executive board, he not only conducted all the executive functions of the Akademi but was also involved in its day-to-day functioning, which is not the role defined for the LKA chairman.</span></div><div style="color: #362f2d; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even before he joined the LKA, Chakravarty again threw out the secretary. This is really suspicious for I have been following Dr Sharma’s career almost for the last three decades in institutions like National Museum, National Gallery of Modern Art and of course the Lalit Kala Akademi and I am happy to report that his track record is actually unblemished, a fact borne out in subsequent enquiries by his detractors, so much so that they were left with little option but to drop the charges on him in court. </span></div><div style="color: #362f2d; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The focus on development of LKA’s infrastructure in Delhi including creating a new wing comprising of a large gallery space, an auditorium, and the administrative wing during Dr Sharma’s tenure was carried out with space carved for storage and putting the library in order. </span></div><div style="color: #362f2d; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He went about creating a new wing at the Lucknow regional centre and put in place LKA’s new branch in the historical landmark Gaiety Theatre of Shimla and publication outlets at Kochi and Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati with almost missionary zeal!</span></div><div style="color: #362f2d; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">His efforts paid off literally and metaphorically as revenue earnings shot up from the initial Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore per annum.</span></div><div style="color: #362f2d; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But this poor officer was forced to take legal recourse and even after abatement of the charge sheet and winning the case in court is still in the process of getting reinstated and join office, for even despite ministerial orders Chakravarty went ahead and ridiculed the quasi-judicial order by stalling its implementation and also made a mockery of the Central Administrative Tribunal and law of the land for this is contempt of court. Hopefully inquires will be initiated against Vajpayee and Chakravarty under government rule and Dr Sharma’s harassment at the hands of the former chairmen will come to an end and justice will not be delayed – remember the old adage?</span></div><div style="color: #362f2d; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Recently I happened to re-read the wonderful lines by Winston Churchill when asked to cut arts funding in favour of the war effort, he simply replied: “Then what are we fighting for?” My point exactly.</span></div><div style="color: #362f2d; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px 0px 5px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(Source: <a href="http://www.asianage.com/arts/wrong-person-hampered-progress-621" target="_blank">The Asian Age, 21 May 2015</a>)</span></span></div></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-40713508792756484752015-05-07T01:36:00.000-07:002016-09-19T04:56:50.513-07:00At Lalit Kala Akademi, paintings lose out to the art of the possible<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When a painting by the internationally renowned Ram Kumar went missing from the Lalit Kala Akademi and was replaced with a fake in 2003, the art fraternity was shocked. As more paintings have gone missing down the years since, successive governments seem to have been least bothered. </span></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With the Modi government taking over the affairs of the akademi, the case of the missing paintings appears all but forgotten. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">A Comptroller and Auditor-General report of 2011-2013 said 14 works of art were missing from the Akademi. “Out of this, nine art works had been missing since 1984, but the Akademi did not take any initiative to trace out the same or fix responsibility,” the report said.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Akademi had not maintained any record of movement of the permanent collection prior to August 2013, it said. In 2010-11, when the Akademi transferred some 400 art works to a regional centre, 17 were damaged because they were not handled by a professional agency. The report said the missing paintings were not written off the record even if they were untraceable. No FIR appears to have been lodged or any enquiry committee formed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHTpOOkWoraZjPbTtoY4jwRNRaR3DOKtmF2ubdzKrhtCFOG1kXnS7_TEyuX5-OsSJNGL5_Jb3xHfbWyarbntl90I017n5Ux1S2ZpNHkIp74zDVN84zm8Fy8xUi1XOpbvxCFJZOCTbflpP/s1600/lalit_2392759a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHTpOOkWoraZjPbTtoY4jwRNRaR3DOKtmF2ubdzKrhtCFOG1kXnS7_TEyuX5-OsSJNGL5_Jb3xHfbWyarbntl90I017n5Ux1S2ZpNHkIp74zDVN84zm8Fy8xUi1XOpbvxCFJZOCTbflpP/s400/lalit_2392759a.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: inherit; outline: 0px;"><br /></b><b style="font-family: inherit; outline: 0px;"><br /></b><b style="font-family: inherit; outline: 0px;">Panel’s findings</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #3b3a39; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nearly 10 years ago, a four-member expert committee was formed to review and authenticate the art works. The committee reported missing </span><i style="font-family: inherit; outline: 0px;">Landscape</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> by Ram Kumar, </span><i style="font-family: inherit; outline: 0px;">Tandava</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> by J. Swaminathan, </span><i style="font-family: inherit; outline: 0px;">Peace</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> by K.K. Hebbar, </span><i style="font-family: inherit; outline: 0px;">Monkey God</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> by M.F. Husain, </span><i style="font-family: inherit; outline: 0px;">Indian Traditional Girl</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> by I. Jayachandran and two paintings by Somnath Hore. </span></span></div><span style="color: #3b3a39; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"></span><br /><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The committee authenticated 2,000 works, but seriously questioned the authenticity of 12. <b>The panel could not verify if these were genuine.</b> The work stopped suddenly and resumed in 2007. The paintings continue to be listed as missing. </span></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The case of the missing paintings forms the essence of a letter written by Ramakrishna Vedala, secretary in charge of the Akademi, in 2013 to the Central Bureau of Investigation. But nothing much happened after that. </span></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><a name='more'></a><br /><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b style="outline: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Artists question wisdom of removing Akademi chairperson </span></b></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even as the Lalit Kala Akademi finds itself in the news for reasons other than art, there is a fear that priceless paintings missing from it might have found their way into private galleries. </span></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What is now grabbing headlines is the government’s sudden takeover of the autonomous Akademi and a group of artists contesting the move in the Delhi High Court. The court had issued notice to the Union government asking why the takeover should not be quashed and a CBI inquiry initiated into the affairs of the Akademi. It is hoped that the court will look into the case of the missing paintings that find a mention in the papers submitted for its scrutiny. </span></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The artists have questioned the government’s wisdom of removing Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty as Akademi Chairperson. Sources say he has taken several steps to clean up the Akademi and rid it of politics. “He was actually in the process of setting the place in order and his removal comes as a shock,” an Akademi member said. Mr. Chakravarty’s tenure should have lasted till 2017. </span></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sources blame a former secretary for mismanagement of the Akademi’s affairs, a charge he denies. While the government has cited financial and administrative irregularities as reasons for the takeover, no one, it appears, has paid any attention to the paintings that have gone missing for long.</span></div><div class="body" style="color: #3b3a39; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(Source: The Hindu, 2 May 2015)</span></div></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-59904117210579917342015-04-30T05:20:00.000-07:002016-09-19T04:56:50.526-07:00The 5 biggest unresolved Indian art scams of the decade<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIc5nDyvv4rGb92WNj1PJiDBPgMi3Rg3_dzGsN0rjh7i_SeRwAnfQPt_gQOs6oHr6g5U1IKkpcsmSANxxeIyFUNPF8KnmYNOcZGL9-lqJ3YOJYryRGWi7BNCIYLTuhSRZzcmjIzFdGdYX/s1600/her-brushstrokes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIc5nDyvv4rGb92WNj1PJiDBPgMi3Rg3_dzGsN0rjh7i_SeRwAnfQPt_gQOs6oHr6g5U1IKkpcsmSANxxeIyFUNPF8KnmYNOcZGL9-lqJ3YOJYryRGWi7BNCIYLTuhSRZzcmjIzFdGdYX/s1600/her-brushstrokes.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image Courtesy: Economic Times Newspaper</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2006: Christies & their partner Vadehra Art Gallery offer fake works at auction<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On 30th March 2006, Christies, in consultation with its Indian partner Vadehra Art Gallery of Delhi, withdrew as many as six lots from its SALE 1762 of Modern & Contemporary Indian Art in New York. No explanation whatsoever is available in the public domain explaining why those lots had been published in the catalogue in the first place, thus establishing that an auction house just by virtue of being one of the oldest or largest ones is not necessarily the most reliable ones when it comes to distinguishing between counterfeits and original works. </span><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As per a report in the Hindustan Times the works, that included two watercolours by MF Husain, three works by FN Souza and a tempera by Ganesh Pyne, also had dubious provenance.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/nm8/christie-s-drops-fake-indian-art/article1-81785.aspx" target="_blank">Read More: http://www.hindustantimes.com/nm8/christie-s-drops-fake-indian-art/article1-81785.aspx</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the past also Christies have been caught in similar controversies –</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1998 - two of Ajoy Ghose's award winning Chaitanya paintings were listed in Christies catalogue as Nandalal Bose's. Ghose's signature had been replaced with a scrawl that read Nando. Their sale, at Rs 3.64 lakh each, was revoked later.<br />Source: <a href="http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/as-market-for-fake-paintings-gets-lucrative-forgers-get-bolder-and-better/1/243513.html" target="_blank">Hall of fakes – India Today, 21 Feb 2000</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2001 - a Manjit Bawa was withdrawn from the Christies auction after the artist informed the auction house that he had nothing to do with the painting and that his signature appearing at the right-hand bottom corner was forged. <br />Source: <br />1. <a href="http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010114/spectrum/main4.htm" target="_blank">Mystery of the fake Bawa – Tribune, 14 Jan 2001</a> </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. </span><a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/two-coats-of-paint-welcome-to-the-dark-world-of-art-fakes/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Two Coats of Paint: Welcome to the dark world of art fakes – Indian Express, 6 July 2014 </a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2009: Saffronart and Osians under Income Tax Dept scanner<o:p></o:p></span></b><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRkq0Gyc6uNWMp2SHYRxawSGxzEkCO5a2alFj-GqrSot7bz22kIy0wfLqqwd1WG4gWd3Fpijhbtzq_c26VwwxrV2MweOmW2_Q8pnMpQMrqt5g0hDfNPoBmcfqdEL1K3pmUIzutMtOnFBP/s1600/Raza+-+Lot+21.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRkq0Gyc6uNWMp2SHYRxawSGxzEkCO5a2alFj-GqrSot7bz22kIy0wfLqqwd1WG4gWd3Fpijhbtzq_c26VwwxrV2MweOmW2_Q8pnMpQMrqt5g0hDfNPoBmcfqdEL1K3pmUIzutMtOnFBP/s1600/Raza+-+Lot+21.png" height="255" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rigging Auctions?</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">An investigation into the business practices of Osians and Saffronart had revealed several irregularities in their account books, including a possible attempt to rig the price of artworks and dupe investors, according to an income-tax (I-T) department official involved in the probe.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Saffronart was also charged for carrying out numerous cash transactions.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">While Neville Tuli and the already </span>beleaguered auction house Osians<span style="font-family: inherit;"> have been declared defaulters as recently as 11th March 2015 by IDBI bank, it would be in the interest of the art collectors if Saffronart can throw light on what was the final outcome of these investigations.<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>96</o:Words> <o:Characters>548</o:Characters> <o:Company>Bid & Hammer</o:Company> <o:Lines>4</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>672</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Inspite these investigations Saffronart continues to offer works at such low prices as evident from its upcoming auction of Modern & Contemporary Art on 12-13 May 2015 wherein <b>a work by S H Raza (<a href="https://www.storyltd.com/auction/item.aspx?eid=3789&lotno=21" target="_blank">lot 21, titled ATMARAS</a>) estimated at Rs 80 Lakhs - Rs 1 crore is available for</b> <b>an unseemly low starting bid of Rs 1,550 – Are there actually such gullible sellers who would be willing to even consider giving away such works at such prices or is it not a a way of misleading prospective bidders?</b> Therefore, it is not a surprise that the IT department accused Saffronart of rigging the price of artworks during its raid in 2009.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><a href="http://www.livemint.com/Home-Page/sz8y3xIQRg5D4VMmLPAl6H/Premier-art-houses-under-IT-scanner.html" target="_blank">Read more</a></u><a href="http://www.livemint.com/Home-Page/sz8y3xIQRg5D4VMmLPAl6H/Premier-art-houses-under-IT-scanner.html" target="_blank">: http://www.livemint.com/Home-Page/sz8y3xIQRg5D4VMmLPAl6H/Premier-art-houses-under-IT-scanner.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Related Links: </u><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/art-culture/the-worst-kept-secret" target="_blank">TheWorst Kept Secret: Open Magazine, 5 Dec 2009 </a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.moneylife.in/article/osians-connoisseurs/40780.html" target="_blank">NevilleTuli, Osian's Connoisseurs declared as defaulters by IDBI Bank: 11 March 2015 </a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2009: Fake Raza's at Dhoomimal Art Gallery<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The discovery of Raza fakes in January 2009 at Dhoomimal Art Gallery in Delhi, at a show the artist himself visited, sent the art fraternity in a shock as the event was hosted by his nephew and at a gallery with whom he has had a relationship for several years.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The following quote from Dr. Alka Raghuvanshi in an article in The Asian Age on 9th April 2015 sums up the fact that this controversy has still not died down "A case in point being S.H. Raza’s show at Dhoomimal’s where he had declared that each one of those works hanging there were fake. Why would an old gallery with a reputation to protect hold a show of fakes and invite the artist himself to inaugurate the show is an unresolved point. Incidentally his market crashed soon after when galleries were approached to buy back stuff painted by him".<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An important point to reiterate here is that family members cannot and should not be thought of as qualified authenticators of their kin's art. The more worrying aspect is that the gallery owners authenticated the work solely basis the provenance and not on the merits of the work when many experts claimed that the works were not even well rendered fakes. However, it would be even more disturbing if the following information published in the Economic Times on 30 Nov 2014 is to be believed <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art industry insiders suggest that Raza, who will turn 93 in February, is in indifferent health and a lot of assistants who are artists are working in his studio to produce paintings that should not be signed by Raza as his own”.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Related Links: </u><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7837205.stm" target="_blank">Painter finds fakes at art show</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/art/art-world-rocked-by-fake-raza-show-in-delhi-gallery/article1-368409.aspx" target="_blank">Artworld rocked by fake Raza show in Delhi gallery </a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2011: Tagore - Fake or Not?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An entire exhibition of Tagore paintings by the Government College of Art was alleged to be fake. The principal of the college Dipali Bhattacharya was suspended a month before her retirement in the wake of the controversy and the matter landed up with the State Crime Investigation Department and the courts. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was asked to comment on the authenticity of the paintings and they filed a report stating that these were not original Tagores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Source: 30 Nov 2014, Economic Times)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, the Government Art College, stood its ground. In a statement, Dipali Bhattacharya wrote: “On behalf of the organising committee of the Tagore Show, I can only express my shock, disappointment and disgust at such an irresponsible statement made by someone [referring to Pranabranjan Roy] who has neither cared to personally inspect the exhibits nor cared to put them through any established method to verify their authenticity. The Government College of Art and Craft is proud to host the Tagore Show and dismisses such comments with the contempt that they deserve.” (Source: The Telegraph, 2 March 2011)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As per an article published in Economic Times on 30 Nov 2014, the matter is still in the courts. It remains to be seen whether R. Siva Kumar and Susobhan Adhikary, teachers at Kala Bhavan Viswa-Bharati University and also the whistleblowers of this matter, are found guilty of conspiracy or is it Dipali Bhattacharya who is to be held accountable.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110302/jsp/calcutta/story_13655903.jsp" target="_blank">Read More: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110302/jsp/calcutta/story_13655903.jsp</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2014: Sex, Lies and Art Theft: How Sheetal faked a Rs 100 crore heist<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is easily as big a counterfeit controversy as others and came to light after approximately 2.5 years of botched up conspiracy theories and half-baked investigations. The works forged were by Manjit Bawa, V S Gaitonde and others and had been restored for Sheetal </span>Mafatlal<span style="font-family: inherit;"> by </span>Pundoles Art Gallery & Auction House. L<span style="font-family: inherit;">ike a bollywood potboiler this tale of deceit involved many bizarre twists and unbelievable turns. </span><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>9</o:Words> <o:Characters>53</o:Characters> <o:Company>Bid & Hammer</o:Company> <o:Lines>1</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>65</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><!--EndFragment--></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><a href="http://mumbaiwalla.com/sheetal-mafatlal-art-faking-inside-story/" target="_blank">Read More</a></u><a href="http://mumbaiwalla.com/sheetal-mafatlal-art-faking-inside-story/" target="_blank">: http://mumbaiwalla.com/sheetal-mafatlal-art-faking-inside-story/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><u>Related Links:</u> <br /><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Mafatlal-firm-owns-5-paintings-that-Sheetal-replaced-with-fakes/articleshow/46511227.cms" target="_blank">Mafatlal firm owns 5 paintings that Sheetal replaced with fakes: 9 March 2015, Times of India</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>881</o:Words> <o:Characters>5023</o:Characters> <o:Company>Bid & Hammer</o:Company> <o:Lines>41</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>10</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>6168</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout v:ext="edit"> <o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-71965500703524555292015-04-09T06:27:00.000-07:002016-09-19T04:56:50.541-07:00Art authentication gun to owner’s head<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="field field-type-text field-field-sub-title"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsp5EfFjU67leiqW6OGcGFXj3VJkoyz9P1viSNJDyzZ6XZClXapPT6JSI8vjxawbvowxKEFXLjFV-8rPvPRxzCT5dtg_IWig2JNhoUbBHEvu6o_HG_dUHIyiPe4CzwCRE0d_B0YBwfWh6S/s1600/alka+raghuvanshi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsp5EfFjU67leiqW6OGcGFXj3VJkoyz9P1viSNJDyzZ6XZClXapPT6JSI8vjxawbvowxKEFXLjFV-8rPvPRxzCT5dtg_IWig2JNhoUbBHEvu6o_HG_dUHIyiPe4CzwCRE0d_B0YBwfWh6S/s1600/alka+raghuvanshi.jpg" height="297" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Last evening at an informal gathering of artists and a few rasikas the conversation veered towards art and its authentication. Figures in lakhs were bandied about which artist’s family or foundation or gallery is charging how much to authenticate works of specific artists. That it was a pittance as compared to the actual cost of the works might well be true, but what about those who were getting the paper work in order not necessarily for commercial reasons.</span></div></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whatever the notional value of a painting, if it was acquired or presented years ago when it was not the norm to get authentications in place, owners have to spend huge amounts to get the papers now. More so if they or their subsequent owners ever plan to sell them or put them up in an auction, the paperwork is deemed imperative.</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I am personally aware of many instances when a senior artist’s daughter is approached for authenticating works that were painted when she was not even born! She takes the smart way out and flatly refuses to issue any certificates, citing that she is in no intellectual or artistic position to certify the works she has not seen her father paint. When this cuts no ice, his former girlfriend is approached and she reportedly charges up to Rs 5 lakh for giving out the certificates. What kind of weight such an authentication carries in the art market is anybody’s guess. To me it is not worth even the paper it is printed on.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Similar is the case with another senior and highly prolific artist whose youngest daughter, who was his sporadic companion only in the last decade of his life, insists that she is the only person who can issue authentication certificates. Not even her other siblings. That he was hardly living with his wife and children for most part of his life is a fact that is conveniently overlooked by most people.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another gallery which used to deal in his works too has taken on the mantle of issuing authentication certificates. They hold to ransom the veracity of even those works not directly bought from their gallery. Apart from charging whopping amounts for the certification, has grown the muscle flexing that goes with art authentications that is more like an institutionalised and legitimate gun being held to the owner’s head: Authentication from me or else I will declare your work a fake. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">What does a buyer do when confronted with a situation when an artist wants to distance himself or herself from earlier works? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A case in point being S.H. Raza’s show at Dhoomimal’s where he had declared that each one of those works hanging there were fake. Why would an old gallery with a reputation to protect hold a show of fakes and invite the artist himself to inaugurate the show is an unresolved point. Incidentally his market crashed soon after when galleries were approached to buy back stuff painted by him.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">How about works of artists who have juniors working for them who do the works and the senior artist only just about signs the work? Will subsequent generations remember that there were junior ateliers who were the real painters? Or is an artist’s authenticating his junior’s work by signing on that canvas good enough? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the last few years, along with the exponential growth of art prices, unexpectedly has grown a market of and for fakes, and what differentiates a real from a good fake is that crucial certification of authentication. Little realising that art was bought and sold even before the authentication trend and that cannot be the way to hold the art market to ransom.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have been speaking to several artists, curators, critics and art management gurus about it and have put together a list of suggestions wherein the art owners, buyers and auctioneers will not be at the receiving end of a few self-styled authentication types — be it galleries, family and progeny of artists. Read about it next week.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Dr Alka Raghuvanshi is an art writer, curator and artist and can be contacted on alkaraghuvanshi @yahoo.com</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(Source: The Asian Age, 9 April 2015)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-64401171102174110832015-04-02T03:21:00.000-07:002016-09-19T04:56:50.555-07:00"Not a single work was a fake"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Maher Dadha, CMD of Bid & Hammer, clears the air on the controversial allegations of counterfeits by business rivals that hit the firm’s last auction in Delhi (excerpt from interview to PTI):</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv34LDUpO5jl2wXi8opKgzumTApTVCtungBbTTu2_PaCP9Ni7xqWa6NLaIgcpGa6RIBK1vs0uQW42BUFaE5hyjn8M0lZhorKuKaW99TZ-2R3DAHMfyhniZVkT3mOtr97BJE9kvhErr1Gc_/s1600/DSC_0078+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv34LDUpO5jl2wXi8opKgzumTApTVCtungBbTTu2_PaCP9Ni7xqWa6NLaIgcpGa6RIBK1vs0uQW42BUFaE5hyjn8M0lZhorKuKaW99TZ-2R3DAHMfyhniZVkT3mOtr97BJE9kvhErr1Gc_/s1600/DSC_0078+-+Version+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In retrospect was it imprudent to have gone ahead with the auction of 'Significant Indian Art' in Delhi last year, despite allegations of counterfeits in the collection?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not at all. On the contrary it showed the true mettle and credibility of our team who had the confidence to stand by their assessment of the authenticity of the artworks. Also, the participation of the known and serious art collectors at the auction reaffirmed our decision was right.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The truth was that the majority of those who claimed the art works were fake were no experts. Those who apparently had made unverified guesses at the behest of some rivals wanted to stop the auction at any cost and tarnish our goodwill. A case in point is ‘Delhi Art Gallery’ posting 'defamatory material' on its Facebook page and 'orchestrating rumours'. At our last paintings auction in Delhi, their insecurity came through by the following statement to a newspaper “Bangalore-based Bid & Hammer's attempt to grab a bite of the lucrative Delhi market has been viewed with something akin to suspicion”.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The auction was widely publicised and the catalogue was out months in advance but none of the critics had attended the preview, inspected the documents or clarified their apprehensions with Bid & Hammer’s experts thus raising questions about the legitimacy of their concerns. The fact that most of the allegations were made via the media and on the day of the auction is further evidence of propaganda. Genuine works cannot and should not be simply brandished as fakes by malafide and untenable allegations.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a name='more'></a><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Many auction houses risk discovering fake works - whether it is a Bowring's, a Christies or a Sothebys, your take on this with respect to your auction?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is there any proof that even a single work was a fake? All the works were authentic. If there had been compelling evidence we would have had no hesitation in accepting our mistake and removing them from auction instead of going in for a public undressing that too in my family's 100th year of enterprise.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What is your opinion on calls for a regulatory body to check fake art?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Very few people in the art market in India today can claim to have a spotless image or the capacity to walk the talk as authenticators. Most have an agenda to earn fame and money even if it entails manipulating the market directly or indirectly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As such, tainted members already associated with art cartels are the ones who will most likely find their way on such regulatory bodies. Thus we are not in favour of it unless a broad consensus acceptable to each and every fraternity member is arrived at.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What are the best ways of authenticating an art work – authenticating organisations or artist foundations? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are certain principles and basic procedures that need to be followed to determine whether a work is genuine or questionable.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the west, authenticating organisations or regulatory bodies or artist foundations have been established and disbanded time and again as they have been found floundering and self-serving more than anything else. Even in India, the talk of regulatory bodies has never taken off because of the vested interest of the people who espouse it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Artist foundations, run primarily by family members of late artists, are also viewed with suspicion because it is common knowledge that just by virtue of being a family member a person cannot claim art expertise.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Can you comment on the criticism of Susobhan Adhikary, museum curator of Viswa Bharati, questioning a Rabindranath Tagore's artwork at the auction last year?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">No expert of standing makes an affirmative comment without inspecting a work and accompanying provenance documents, more so, when another expert of equal, if not greater repute, has vetted the work. Prof Ratan Parimoo who is an authority authenticated our work.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What are the future plans of Bid & Hammer?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We will continue to offer a wide range of rare, exquisite and quality art, antiques, jewellery and collectibles through our auctions. The auction schedule will be announced shortly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you have plans to make Delhi the main base for Bid & Hammer?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We would soon have a representative office in Delhi and by the time of our next auction to be held there we will be on course to making the capital the hub of our paintings and decorative art auctions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Related Posts:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/art/not-a-single-work-was-a-fake-bid-hammer/articleshow/46767747.cms" target="_blank">Not a single work was a fake: Bid & Hammer | Economic Times | 1st April 2015 </a></span><br />2. <a href="http://echoofindia.com/bengaluru-not-single-work-was-fake-bid-hammer-81903" target="_blank">Not a single work was a fake: Bid & Hammer | The Echo of India | 1st April 2015</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. <a href="http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/due-diligence-for-all-art-works-put-on-sale-bid-and-hammer-115032200296_1.html" target="_blank">Due diligence for all works put on sale: Bid & Hammer | Business Standard | 22nd March 2015</a></span><br />4. <a href="http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/regulatory-body-to-tackle-fake-art-untenable-bid-hammer-115012500747_1.html" target="_blank">Regulatory body to tackle fake art untenable: Bid & Hammer | Business Standard | 24th Jan 2015</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>653</o:Words> <o:Characters>3725</o:Characters> <o:Company>Bid & Hammer</o:Company> <o:Lines>31</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>7</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>4574</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-89403585901506273072015-04-02T01:52:00.000-07:002016-09-19T04:56:50.569-07:00Saffronart to conduct its first live auction in Bangalore<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPyLbJPWFNBzThj1aoeH-j9g1bin0t3aT5oEF4BRYt0-UXKjmga0XdZxEOI0SpbkXNT6vvTYFwkrJblZRO23tqml7nR0B1zPWx3G1iDPK7Xdgg9Gjkdi15Bnhc1YIR1HfKWEBJ6MSrL_zj/s1600/saffron+in+blr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPyLbJPWFNBzThj1aoeH-j9g1bin0t3aT5oEF4BRYt0-UXKjmga0XdZxEOI0SpbkXNT6vvTYFwkrJblZRO23tqml7nR0B1zPWx3G1iDPK7Xdgg9Gjkdi15Bnhc1YIR1HfKWEBJ6MSrL_zj/s1600/saffron+in+blr.jpg" height="320" width="273" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Email from Saffronart: <o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are expanding base with our inaugural auction in Bangalore, one of India’s largest cosmopolitan cities. Unlike our previous auctions, <a href="http://saffronart.us4.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=5769fc0530fc93191154bd25f&id=84bbcf5823&e=4d01d3b012"><b><span style="color: windowtext;">The Discerning Eye: Important Furniture, Jewellery, and Works of Art</span></b></a> one features a mix of Modern, Contemporary, folk and tribal art, vintage interiors and mid-century furniture, and jewellery inspired by Indian and international designs. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><br /><a name='more'></a><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keep an eye out for artists such as Jangarh Singh and Baua Devi, famed for their intricate works resonating with the traditions of India's traditional arts; works by Modernists including M. F. Husain, S. H. Raza, F. N. Souza and Jogen Chowdhury; furniture inspired by 19th and 20th century designs and the clean, functional forms of post-war Europe; jewellery set with pearls, rubies, emeralds, tanzanite and diamonds, and much more.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Viewings and Live Auction:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wednesday, April 15, 2015 <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Viewing: 11:00 am till auction start<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Registration: 6:30 p.m. onwards<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Auction: 7:30 p.m. onwards<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-family: Times;">ABOUT SAFFRONART:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times;">A global company with deep Indian roots, Saffronart was founded in 2000 on the strength of a private passion. Remaining committed to this passion and personal values, today Saffronart is a strong and successful international auction house that both embraces and drives change.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times;">A platform for fine art and collectibles with over fourteen years of experience in auctions, Saffronart is committed to serving the growing community of Indian collectors, while also creating a cultural bridge to India for both the global Indian diaspora and the international community at large. Saffronart has set several global benchmarks for online auctions and is the subject of a case study at Harvard Business School.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>235</o:Words> <o:Characters>1341</o:Characters> <o:Company>Bid & Hammer</o:Company> <o:Lines>11</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>1646</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Saffronart has held several highly successful online and live auctions, accompanied by physical catalogues and preview events in cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, New York, London, Singapore and Hong Kong. These auctions allow bidders around the world to participate simultaneously in exciting sales. In October 2008, Saffronart extended its unique online auction platform beyond fine-art to host its inaugural sale of Fine Jewels and Watches, adding a new dimension to its market presence. Since December 2011, Saffronart has offered Indian antiquities including sculptures, artefacts and miniature paintings on its auction platform, in auctions conducted by Collectibles Antiques India Private Limited. In 2012, Saffronart held its inaugural auctions of Modern & Impressionist Art, Carpets & Rugs, Folk & Tribal Art, Art Deco and the Art of Pakistan, followed by its first Travel & Leisure auction in 2013.</span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-22361010886562758982015-03-21T01:55:00.000-07:002016-09-19T04:56:50.581-07:00Criminal case against Delhi Art Gallery & others for 'fake allegations'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Dispelling the rumours that some of the works in its Significant Indian Art auction on 27th June 2014 were fakes, Bid & Hammer (B&H) has filed a suit under section 200 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 read with sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, read with section 66a of the Information Technology Act, 2000, before Justice M C Nada Gowda, IInd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Bangalore, against Ashish Anand of the Delhi Art Gallery (DAG) and others for “defaming” them by making “allegations and insinuations that are clearly and palpably false and render a highly negative image of the works brought to auction by the complainant, despite the highly credible process of authentication. These allegations not only undermine the reputation of the complainant and its directors, experts and employees but also of its consignors such as grand-daughter of the Maharaja of Burdwan, freedom fighter Radha Devi Goenka, actress Namrata Shirodkar and others”.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a name='more'></a><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Buoyed by its recent landmark victory in an art authenticity case, in this suit B&H has dwelt at length about its “formidable reputation as the open market auctioneer of genuine art, artifacts and original paintings of well reputed artists”. It also speaks about the rich legacy of the 1000 year old Dadha family – promoters of the auction house who have been in business for 100 years. “The accused (DAG) have made imputations intentionally and deliberately without clarifications from the complainant to undermine and tarnish the reputation of the complainant in the society,” the defamation suit said. The other accused are Abhilasha Ojha, Kishore Singh and the Times of India newspaper group.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">B&H has submitted evidence to establish that in a bid to sabotage its auction and mislead the art collecting fraternity the accused (DAG) continuously posted “offensive material” on social networking sites and made other such undue attempts to tarnish its goodwill and create mistrust among prospective bidders by orchestrating a smear campaign to thwart the auction. Ashish Anand had claimed that 90% of the works were fakes and quoted “The recent development with regard to the authenticity of works by masters at a forthcoming auction has sent alarm bells ringing once again. How do we regulate this? Especially when experts have given their opinion, which is negative, in regard to a very large body of works. We hope people will support our cause and the framing of an art council will attend to all such matters with due urgency”. However, B&H pointed out that as per a news article on 27th June 2014 it was Delhi Art Gallery that had been guilty of selling a fake Rabindranath Tagore work to art collector Vatsal Poddar. Also, Ashish Anand was one of the first few to order a copy of the catalogue when it came out weeks in advance, then why did he wait till the auction day to go to the media asks Ankush Dadha, Director of B&H, as he goes on to state, “A call for a regulatory body spearheaded by a coterie of competitors just on the eve of our auction was in absolute bad taste with the only intent to directly and indirectly scuttle the success of our auction”. He further added, “in any which way such a body will not be tenable as tainted members & art cartels may sit on it to manipulate the market”.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The cause of friction stems from B&H deciding not to accept consignments from DAG after its inaugural auction in January 2008. Even at B&H’s last paintings auction in Delhi DAG and its associates continued their onslaught by making the following statement to a newspaper “Bangalore based Bid & Hammer’s attempt to grab a bite of the lucrative Delhi market has been viewed with something akin to suspicion”, thus demonstrating their insecurity at B&H’s forays in the Delhi art scene. On that occasion DAG had unscrupulously spoken on the provenance of the Ravi Varma works in B&H’s catalogue, a jibe that was silenced by B&H’s rejoinder to the newspaper and followed up by the comprehensive victory in the suit against Kiran Nadar. More recently DAG has also been trying to enter the auction space on its own which has created confusion among buyers due to the conflicts of interest such a model presents – a gallery is meant to be the primary market and an auction house the secondary market and a clear distinction between the two is in the best interest of the buyer. DAG should realize this without trying to compete in an undignified manner to polarize experts and monopolize the market.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Ashish Anand’s tactic of attacking others and claiming that they proliferate fakes is only a defense mechanism to safe-guard his unverified stock hoarding of over 30,000 works, which he has been desperately trying to offload. The numbers are too astounding and to add to the mystery is whether all the works are authentic and carry provenance documents and purchase receipts – thing’s that are easily fabricated by forgers these days. By being seen at auction rooms and picking up a work or two doesn’t imply that the rest of one’s inventory pile can be passed off as genuine. Only a thorough investigation of his transactions can throw light on this.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Nonetheless, this suit might give the much needed peek into the conspiracy theories that plague the art market and consequently coerce art dealers into becoming more transparent.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Rajani Prasanna, daughter of artist K K Hebbar who had also joined hands with Ashish Anand in this smear campaign by questioning the works by her father, very peculiarly did not check the certificate issued by her own sister Rekha Rao. The auction house plans to implead the sisters as well in the suit.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">B&H’s competitive pricing has regularly created unease among the dominating local gallery owners who potentially risk losing out on clients that have paid inflated prices for works purchased through them in the past. As a result these gallery owners are ganging-up and indulging in mud slinging. In the higher interest of Indian art, with the objective of quelling such unhealthy attitudes and DAG’s persistent attempts to malign its prowess, B&H, through this suit, has sought for “appropriate action against the accused persons in accordance with law for the offences committed, by punishing them and grant such other further reliefs as are just”.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">(Source: http://www.indianshowbiz.com/?p=83498)<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: verdana, arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.201921463012695px; text-align: left;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: verdana, arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.201921463012695px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Related Posts:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">1. <a href="http://www.deccanherald.com/content/466780/bengaluru-court-orders-police-probe.html" target="_blank">Bengaluru court orders police probe into 'fake art' case | Deccan Herald | 20 March 2015</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">2. <a href="http://thefirstmail.in/news/news-details/54450-ravi_varma_painting_not_fake_ktaka_hc-appointed_arbitrator#sthash.31FOttKH.dpbs" target="_blank">Ravi Varma painting not fake: K'taka HC appointed arbitrator | Defamation Suit filed against Delhi</a> <a href="http://thefirstmail.in/news/news-details/54450-ravi_varma_painting_not_fake_ktaka_hc-appointed_arbitrator#sthash.31FOttKH.dpbs" target="_blank">Art Gallery | The First Mail | 15 February 2015 </a><br />3.<a href="http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/due-diligence-for-all-art-works-put-on-sale-115032200733_1.html" target="_blank"> Due Diligence for all art works put on sale | Business-Standard | 22 March 2015 </a> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> </div></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-83940932649607415432015-03-16T00:51:00.000-07:002016-09-19T04:56:50.594-07:00The World's Costliest Painting and Indian Art<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Combined price of the 5 most expensive paintings by Indian artists is less than the price of 1 Gauguin<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrGK2jwgpMIftble_7wyQG__9I6F-t5Z_xBMe17XTDQhToM6TbmdYO3zJy931ipVi-z9uGRxpNZgFJ6Q4cqfYzEeeROYsZ0KTTRZ18SXfOFIEWpXmmElj9Epic6uys2gE1L6wPBBZjXD-/s1600/worlds+costliest+painting+and+indian+art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrGK2jwgpMIftble_7wyQG__9I6F-t5Z_xBMe17XTDQhToM6TbmdYO3zJy931ipVi-z9uGRxpNZgFJ6Q4cqfYzEeeROYsZ0KTTRZ18SXfOFIEWpXmmElj9Epic6uys2gE1L6wPBBZjXD-/s1600/worlds+costliest+painting+and+indian+art.jpg" height="215" width="400" /></a></div> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Source: Economic Times, 16 March 2015<br /><br /></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-17678880381303929542015-03-15T05:51:00.000-07:002016-09-19T04:56:50.605-07:00Exhorting Johny ML to shut up - Urge for a 'Code of Conduct' for art critics! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">Johny Mulluvilakom Lakshmanan's penchant to grab attention every now and then by making imprudent statements and writing preposterous pieces is well known in the art circles. Rubbing people and institutions on the wrong shoulder is nothing new to this art historian and art critic from Kerala - whether exhorting PM Modi to start a debate because of the Pune Biennale 2015 debacle (of which he was the project director) or stating that Prof. Rajeev Lochan should be out of the NGMA or unimpressively shooting down opinions of senior scholars and curators, there are many in the Indian art fraternity who believe that there should be a Code of Conduct for art critics and historians or an association on the lines of Association of Art Historians (AAH) UK to ensure that a certain dignity in approach and comments is maintained.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a name='more'></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It doesn't suit someone to indulge in mud slinging and go pooh-poohing proudly that by doing so they become brave and outspoken under the garb of artistic freedom of speech and expression. The Pune fiasco might not have been so much about the artworks as it was more about Johny ML's defiance against local authorities and sentiments as the other works depicting nudes were not asked to be removed by the uniformed miscreants who were exceptionally outraged by Noida based artist-duo Manil-Rohit's work. Such controversies can easily be avoided if Indian curators exercise reasonable caution and demonstrate appreciation of regional cultural sensibilities. </div><div><br /></div><div>Related Posts:</div><div>1. <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/out-of-bounds/article6910157.ece" target="_blank">Out of Bounds </a></div><div>2. <a href="http://www.cartanart.com/2014/05/26/editorial-if-i-were-mr-narendra-modi-i-would-have-removed-mr-rajeev-lochan-from-the-ngma/" target="_blank">If I were Mr. Narendra Modi, I would have removed Mr. Rajeev Lochan from the NGMA / Johny ML </a></div><div>3. <a href="http://johnyml.blogspot.in/2010/05/open-letter-to-profrajeev-lochan.html" target="_blank">An open letter to Prof Rajeev Lochan, Director of National Gallery of Modern Art </a><br />4. <span style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://utharakalam.com/english/?p=149" target="_blank">Fault lines in Johny ML's open article addressing Geeta Kapur</a></span></div></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-27674655856377686962015-03-11T01:50:00.000-07:002016-09-19T04:56:50.616-07:00Neville Tuli, Osian's Connoisseurs declared as defaulters by IDBI Bank<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #333333;">In a newspaper advertisement, IDBI Bank said Tuli and Osian’s Connoisseurs together owe it Rs59.20 crore as on 1st March, and the Bank holds second charge on the offices of the company</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZXsn3za-7TbObJ48b94YhyphenhyphenNM7Sj7NzksZFY3A-h_jexClgQQ9-rPuIAn-OyenpLyUJqdmZnoV7ePxsdwnkPVLTxEZVItC-thorjZRtw1BK0zVCXUdHoOhZuBUzN4AsbGuQxCv0jiqFXW/s1600/1426072884_Neville-Tuli_IDBI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZXsn3za-7TbObJ48b94YhyphenhyphenNM7Sj7NzksZFY3A-h_jexClgQQ9-rPuIAn-OyenpLyUJqdmZnoV7ePxsdwnkPVLTxEZVItC-thorjZRtw1BK0zVCXUdHoOhZuBUzN4AsbGuQxCv0jiqFXW/s1600/1426072884_Neville-Tuli_IDBI.jpg" height="298" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">IDBI Bank, through an advertisement in a newspaper has declared Neville Tuli, promoter and personal guarantor of Osian's Connoisseurs of Art Pvt Ltd, and the company, a defaulter. The Bank says that it holds second charge of the office premises of the company situated in Nariman Bhawan in Mumbai.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><br /><a name='more'></a><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">The notice, which includes a photograph of Tuli says, "It is hereby notified to the public at large that the above mentioned borrower failed and neglected to pay the instalments of principal, interest and other monies to IDBI Bank with respect to the financial assistance granted to the borrower. The borrowers are required to pay the outstanding sum or Rs59.20 crore as on 1 March 2015 together with interest thereon till the date of payment in terms of various loan documents executed by them in favour of IDBI Bank."</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">The Bank also cautioned people against dealing with the property as huge dues are recoverable from Tuli and his company.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">The notice is issued by the Bank's NPA Management Group.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">Earlier in April 2013, market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) had asked Osian’s-Connoisseurs, which managed Osian's Art Fund, to wind up its existing collective investment scheme (CIS) and refund the money collected from investors. SEBI also referred the case to the state government and the police for filing a civil or criminal case against Osian's and its promoters, directors and persons in-charge of its CIS. In addition, SEBI had also requested the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) to initiate proceedings to wind up the Art Fund.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">Osian's raised Rs102.40 crore from 656 unit holders across 39 cities, most of them high net-worth individuals (HNIs). The scheme used to declare NAVs showing 30% returns, but when it was time for redemption, the money was not forthcoming. The scheme was wound up on 10 July 2009.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">At present, the case is pending before the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT).</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Meanwhile, in January 2015, Tuli, the chairman of Osian's group launched Osianama - India's Arts, Auto Cine & Culture Centre at the iconic art-deco Liberty Cinema in Mumbai. Osianama also launched its Vintage and Classic Automotive Club, which it claims is a unique initiative to bring the world of automotive 'cultural treasures' to both connoisseurs and students in the form of events, exhibitions, discussions, master classes and seminars. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.moneylife.in/article/osians-connoisseurs/40780.html" target="_blank">(Source: Moneylife.in)</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Related Posts: </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1.<a href="http://www.moneylife.in/article/neville-tuli-led-osians-group-continues-with-new-ventures-amidst-loan-defaults/40808.html" target="_blank"> </a></span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.moneylife.in/article/neville-tuli-led-osians-group-continues-with-new-ventures-amidst-loan-defaults/40808.html" target="_blank">Neville Tuli-led Osian's group continues with new ventures amidst loan defaults</a></span><a href="http://www.moneylife.in/article/neville-tuli-led-osians-group-continues-with-new-ventures-amidst-loan-defaults/40808.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #333333; 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mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-41821253982763408742015-03-10T01:24:00.000-07:002016-09-19T04:56:50.628-07:00Indian Artists in Top 500 Artists by Auction Revenue in 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color: #bec0bf; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 36.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 52.0px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>SL NO.</b></span><br /> </td><td style="background-color: #bec0bf; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 36.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 63.0px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>Rank</b></span><br /> </td><td style="background-color: #bec0bf; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 36.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 230.0px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>Artist</b></span><br /> </td><td style="background-color: #bec0bf; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 36.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 110.0px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>Auction Turnover ($)</b></span><br /> </td><td style="background-color: #bec0bf; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 36.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 64.0px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>Sold Lots</b></span><br /> </td><td style="background-color: #bec0bf; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 36.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 114.0px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>Top Hammer Price ($)</b></span><br /> </td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: gainsboro; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 34.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 52.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;">1</span></div></td><td style="background-color: gainsboro; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 34.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 63.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>173</b></span></div></td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 34.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 230.0px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>Anish Kapoor (1954)</b></span><br /> </td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 34.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 110.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>1,08,06,042</b></span></div></td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 34.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 64.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>40</b></span></div></td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 34.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 114.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>15,00,000</b></span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: gainsboro; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 35.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 52.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;">2</span></div></td><td style="background-color: gainsboro; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 35.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 63.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>235</b></span></div></td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 35.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 230.0px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>Francis Newton Souza (1924-2002)</b></span><br /> </td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 35.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 110.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>78,37,898</b></span></div></td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 35.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 64.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>222</b></span></div></td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 35.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 114.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>14,00,000</b></span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: gainsboro; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 65.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 52.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;">3</span></div></td><td style="background-color: gainsboro; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 65.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 63.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>243</b></span></div></td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 65.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 230.0px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>Nicolas Konstantinov Roerich (1874-1947)</b></span><br /> </td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 65.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 110.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>76,76,780</b></span></div></td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 65.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 64.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>17</b></span></div></td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 65.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 114.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>21,79,190</b></span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: gainsboro; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 56.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 52.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;">4</span></div></td><td style="background-color: gainsboro; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 56.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 63.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>275</b></span></div></td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 56.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 230.0px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>Tyeb Mehta (1925-2009)</b></span><br /> </td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 56.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 110.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>66,50,686</b></span></div></td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 56.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 64.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>6</b></span></div></td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 56.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 114.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>24,21,000</b></span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: gainsboro; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 65.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 52.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;">5</span></div></td><td style="background-color: gainsboro; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 65.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 63.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>429</b></span></div></td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 65.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 230.0px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>Vasudeo S Gaitonde (1924-2001)</b></span><br /> </td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 65.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 110.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>37,99,700</b></span></div></td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 65.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 64.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>4</b></span></div></td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 65.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 114.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>21,00,000</b></span></div></td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: gainsboro; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 35.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 52.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;">6</span></div></td><td style="background-color: gainsboro; border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 35.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 63.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>496</b></span></div></td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 35.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 230.0px;" valign="top"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>Maqbool Fida Husain (1915-2011)</b></span><br /> </td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 35.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 110.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>32,75,069</b></span></div></td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 35.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 64.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>54</b></span></div></td><td style="border-color: #000000 #000000 #000000 #000000; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px 1.0px; height: 35.0px; padding: 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px 4.0px; width: 114.0px;" valign="top"><div align="right" style="text-align: right;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px;"><b>3,18,953</b></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div> <span style="font-size: x-small;"> Source: Artprice.com</span></div><br /></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-26706438249575632702015-02-16T10:16:00.000-08:002016-09-19T04:56:50.642-07:00Landmark authenticity case in India finds in favour of the auction house<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>13</o:Words> <o:Characters>75</o:Characters> <o:Company>Bid & Hammer</o:Company> <o:Lines>1</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>92</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2TCPaJQBtykqpctZ5PeGvK8vYGAzOOjz9L0IwnU6vCB891n1lYNIAZYX5n3agapGIbXVDOsxk4aDBkixEAPZGes5YDQLV4E68Ol2zrE4GGEvzkxDvvX7rd7WN0ZZHGcAxQIZ6NxKFV8v/s1600/ArtMkt+Kiran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2TCPaJQBtykqpctZ5PeGvK8vYGAzOOjz9L0IwnU6vCB891n1lYNIAZYX5n3agapGIbXVDOsxk4aDBkixEAPZGes5YDQLV4E68Ol2zrE4GGEvzkxDvvX7rd7WN0ZZHGcAxQIZ6NxKFV8v/s1600/ArtMkt+Kiran.jpg" height="276" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Delhi: A court in Karnataka, south-west India, has ruled that Shiv-Kiran-Nadar </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Investments (SKN)—whose director is the Delhi-based collector and museum-</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">owner Kiran Nadar—must pay the full amount for a 120-year-old painting </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that Nadar bid for at an auction held by the Indian company Bid & Hammer. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nadar won the bidding for Jatayu Vadham, 1895, by Raja Ravi Varma at the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Significant Indian Paintings” sale in Delhi in November 2010; the hammer </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">price was Rs13.5m ($290,000), equivalent to the low estimate for the work.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The auction house, which had sued Nadar and SKN, said that Nadar paid </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">50% of the total, and then asked for an extended period of 30 days to make the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">remaining payment. “However, at the end of this credit period when reminded </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to pay the balance amount, she disputed the authenticity of the work based on </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the [conservator’s] report,” says a statement from Bid & Hammer.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br /><a name='more'></a><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ganesh Shivaswamy, the lawyer representing Bid & Hammer, tells The Art </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Newspaper: “Nadar sought to cancel the sale which the auction house found unacceptable…the dispute which originally commenced only to enforce the payment of [a] remainder matured into an adversarial proceeding regarding the authenticity of the painting itself.” Shivaswamy says that this litigation—where a dispute regarding the authenticity of a work has gone to court—is probably the first of its kind in India.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jijo Jose, a spokesman for Nadar and SKN, says that Nadar agreed to receive </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the painting “on payment of half of the sale price… with the understanding </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that she would get [it] examined and tested by an expert and would complete the sale only if satisfied of [its] authenticity.” But a spokesman for Bid & Hammer said that Nadar “simply changed her mind [in 2010] after delivery of the work and took advantage of the trust we had [put] in her with regards to the payment schedule”.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The 2011 report by the conservator Sreekumar Menon concluded that “the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">authenticity of the painting under study is questionable and it is very unlikely </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">that the painting is painted by Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906).” However, in </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">his December verdict, Justice Gururajan— the High Court of Karnataka’s appointed arbitrator—said “what is clear to this tribunal is that the respondents’ </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">expert himself is not sure with regard to authenticity… when an expert subjects </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">a painting [to examination] he should be positive and he cannot leave the question not fully answered.” Menon maintains his view.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The court ruled however that the work “is genuine and answers the description in terms of the catalogue”. (The catalogue describes the provenance as: “Consigned by a very prominent Chennai-based collector, who acquired it directly from the descendants of the Travancore Royal Family from Nagerkovil in Kanyakumari District in Tamil Nadu, in the 1970s.”)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The tribunal found that the agreement was with SKN, not Nadar personally, which must pay Bid & Hammer the balance of 50% of the total sum of Rs16m ($350,000, with buyer’s premium) plus 12% interest, along with legal fees.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>483</o:Words> <o:Characters>2756</o:Characters> <o:Company>Bid & Hammer</o:Company> <o:Lines>22</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>3384</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gareth Harris</span><o:p></o:p></b></div><!--EndFragment-->(Source: The Art Newspaper, London, Section 2, Number 265, February 2015) <br /><br /><br /></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-3869481203633025352015-02-03T01:05:00.000-08:002016-09-19T04:56:50.653-07:00Sotheby's Sued By Indian Business Partner B. K. Modi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJESbhz6gFgw_iVWKluZy-2mNVzqSQft69xGxZxjZbjUqX8j4mSoN5AuxpJUicJByBWRswb2_y34v0qzGQGUb1kIPzeqzzhGu6Hy-PUZzGf2J5uHv5l9szIWVTQ9_nMB-EW57iY3kda7qh/s1600/52-bhupendra-kumar-modi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJESbhz6gFgw_iVWKluZy-2mNVzqSQft69xGxZxjZbjUqX8j4mSoN5AuxpJUicJByBWRswb2_y34v0qzGQGUb1kIPzeqzzhGu6Hy-PUZzGf2J5uHv5l9szIWVTQ9_nMB-EW57iY3kda7qh/s1600/52-bhupendra-kumar-modi.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>8</o:Words> <o:Characters>49</o:Characters> <o:Company>Bid & Hammer</o:Company> <o:Lines>1</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>60</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">B.K. Modi whose Smart Entertainment Ltd is suing Sotheby's<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sotheby's has been sued by Indian company Smart Entertainment Ltd over the alleged breach of a joint venture agreement for business conducted in India, the </span><a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/smart-entertainment-ltds-bk-modi-sues-sothebys/articleshow/46076876.cms" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: windowtext;">Economic Times</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> reports. The joint venture, Sotheby's India Pvt Ltd, was created in the 1990s. Smart Entertainment, which is backed by Singapore-based industrialist B.K. Modi, filed a suit in the Delhi High Court on Friday as the auction house conducted a preview event in the Indian capital.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Speaking to the paper, Rishabh Tongya, the director of Sotheby's India Pvt Ltd explained, "We have had a 50:50 joint venture with Sotheby's for the last 25 years and it is discouraging to note that they are completely ignoring the Indian partner, now that opportunities in the art market are opening up in India."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, Sotheby's representatives have maintained that they were not engaged in a an exclusive agreement with Smart Entertainment Ltd or Modi, himself, thus allowing them to conduct independent business such as the preview event.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thrown in collaboration with Rolls Royce, the preview featured works for Sotheby's upcoming sale of Modern and Contemporary South Asian art , including pieces by prominent Indian artists V. S. Gaitonde, Jehangir Sabavala, M.F. Husain, Jagdish Swaminathan and Ram Kumar. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The court accepted Smart Entertainment Ltd's suit and said, "The holding of the exhibition/auction will be subject to the orders passed by the court."</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In a statement sent to artnet News, Sotheby's says, “Sotheby's position is that no joint venture was ever formally conducted with the Modis. We are able to conduct business in India without reference to them. We understand that proceedings have been initiated in the High Court of Delhi against Art Development (India) Limited which is a subsidiary of Sotheby's registered in the UK. Art Development (India) Limited has not received any copy of the court order as of yet. As this matter is now before a court, Sotheby's has no further comment."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's the second time in recent weeks that Sotheby's has found itself being dragged to court (see <a href="http://news.artnet.com/market/angry-seller-accuses-sothebys-of-misattributing-caravaggio-144981"><span style="color: windowtext;">Angry Seller Accuses Sotheby's of Misattributing Caravaggio</span></a>). In a previous case, in which a verdict was reached in mid-January, a collector accused the auction house of being negligent in its attribution of his work, which was later re-attributed as a Caravaggio. In that case, Sotheby's was victorious (see <a href="http://news.artnet.com/art-world/sothebys-wins-case-over-158-million-caravaggio-223012"><span style="color: windowtext;">Sotheby's Wins Case Over $15.8 Million Caravaggio</span></a>).</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>403</o:Words> <o:Characters>2301</o:Characters> <o:Company>Bid & Hammer</o:Company> <o:Lines>19</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>2825</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://news.artnet.com/market/sothebys-sued-by-indian-business-partner-b-k-modi-241041" target="_blank">(Source:Artnet.com)</a></span><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-38115029590981252382015-01-30T08:00:00.000-08:002016-09-19T04:56:50.663-07:00Art fair turns India's capital into art hub<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">India's biggest art fair opened in New Delhi this week with a focus on homegrown artists and exhibits inspired by contemporary themes such as the worst floods in the Kashmir region in more than a century.</span></div><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.6em;">A smorgasbord of works by 1,100 artists lured art lovers, gallerists and gawkers to a cavernous exhibition space in the capital, cementing the annual fair's reputation as one of South Asia's top cultural events. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.6em;">Each year, an estimated 100,000 visitors flock to the four-day fair with entry tickets that cost no more than $6.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">The city's glitterati strolled past exhibits by 85 galleries at Thursday's preview clutching glasses of red wine, with several displays sold before the seventh edition of the fair opened for public viewing on Friday. The show runs until Sunday. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.6em;">"We've had five or six sell-out booths and several galleries have done exceptionally well," founder Neha Kirpal told Reuters.</span><br /><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">India's art scene has been expanding for the past few years, with auctioneer Christie's second Mumbai auction in December generating sales of $12 million. A report by analysts ArtTactic said confidence in the market was at its highest since 2007.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For four days each year, New Delhi becomes a centre for the visual arts, with the India Art Fair at the hub of several spin-off events such as museum shows, seminars and glamorous parties.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Beyond the fair itself, the effect it has on the art scene in Delhi at large ... and almost collaterally, the rest of Delhi programmes its art agendas," said artist Jitish Kallat, who said he would be lucky to attend half the events on the schedule.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A life-size wooden replica of a typical Kashmiri house lies on its side at the fair's entrance, a reminder of the destruction wreaked by floods in the Himalayan state last year.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kashmiri artist Veer Munshi, who lives in Delhi, took nearly three months to complete the house, and said he would use proceeds from its cost of about 3 million rupees ($48,500) to rehabilitate artists and writers from his native land.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Inside the fair, among an array of paintings, sculpture, video installations and photographs is another wooden exhibit - one inspired by a militant assault on the city of Mumbai in 2008.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mumbai artist T V Santhosh's installation tilts the city's historic railway station at an angle, with several digital clocks on its walls counting down time in the Mumbai landmark.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Elsewhere, metallic beads take the shape of four men hanging on for dear life on a Mumbai train while an army of giant ants, with their bodies sculpted from motorbike parts, bask under the winter sun.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Like other years, customs duty and red tape threatens to temper the enthusiasm of Western gallery owners attending the fair. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.6em;">"I was told that a lot of the galleries from the United States stopped (coming) because of all the taxes and all the paper work involved," said Clarita Brinkerhoff, whose Florida-based gallery is exhibiting for the first time in India.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Brinkerhoff's metal sculptures of peacocks, India's national bird, studded with Swarovski crystals found favour with the Delhi crowd, with five of her exhibits sold on the first day.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She wants to be back next year, but said she hoped "the process would not be so complicated".</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It may be years before New Delhi can hope to match art fairs in Hong Kong or Dubai, but director Kirpal is unperturbed. She describes India as an emerging market in contrast to several art markets that have stagnated. </span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="focusParagraph"></span><span id="midArticle_1"></span><span id="midArticle_2"></span><span id="midArticle_3"></span><span id="midArticle_4"></span><span id="midArticle_5"></span><span id="midArticle_6"></span><span id="midArticle_7"></span><span id="midArticle_8"></span><span id="midArticle_9"></span><span id="midArticle_10"></span><span id="midArticle_11"></span><span id="midArticle_12"></span><span id="midArticle_13"></span><span id="midArticle_14"></span><span id="midArticle_15"></span><span id="midArticle_0"></span><span id="midArticle_1"></span><span id="midArticle_2"></span><span id="midArticle_3"></span></span><br /><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;"></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="midArticle_4"></span></span><br /><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"The good news is that we are at the beginning of our growth curve for the market," she said. "There's only one way to go."</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(Source: </span>Tony Thakaran for <span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.6em;">Reuters, 30 January 2015) </span></div></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647914502847397054.post-90788299845910609892014-12-14T09:23:00.000-08:002016-09-19T04:56:50.676-07:00Bid & Hammer wins Ravi Varma painting case against HCL Founder's wife Kiran Nadar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">12 December 2014, Bangalore:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> In a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">landmark verdict</b> running into 81 pages Hon. Justice R. Gururajan (High Court of Karnataka’s appointed arbitrator) has allowed the claims of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bid & Hammer</b> (B&H) against <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kiran Nadar</b>, wife of HCL’s Shiv Nadar and owner of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kiran Nadar Museum of Art</b> as well as director of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Shiv-Kiran-Nadar Investments (Chennai) Pvt Ltd</b>., for failing to pay up the dues owed to it for the 120-yr-old <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ravi Varma</b>painting <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">‘Jatayu Vadha’</b> that she had bid for on 30 November 2010 at their <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">‘Significant Indian Paintings’</b> auction in Delhi. Kiran Nadar and her consultants could not provide sustainable proof for disputing the expertise of the country’s pioneer multi-category auction house Bid & Hammer, promoted by the Dadha Group of companies that recently celebrated 100 years of existence.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The problem began when Mrs Nadar paid 50% of the total she owed to B&H and had asked for an extended timeline of 30 days to make the remaining payment. However, at the end of this credit period when reminded to pay the balance amount she disputed the authenticity of the work based on the report of conservators <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Shreekumar Menon</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Priya Khanna</b> and deliquently failed to pay the remaining amount whilst continuing to enjoy possession of the painting. Not only this, as per the argument submitted by B&H’s advocate, in her cross-examination in Bangalore she admitted to the condition of the painting being “jeopardized”. Shocked at the turn of events after having afforded Mrs Nadar every opportunity, prior to the sale, to establish the authenticity & provenance of the painting through its in-house experts and her own consultants, B&H asked Mrs Nadar to abide by the ‘Terms & Conditions of Sale’ given in the auction catalogue as it not only found <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Menon’s technical report to be</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">faulty and incomplete</b> but his inspection techniques had admittedly resulted in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">irremediable damage to the painting</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she refused to abide by the contract B&H was compelled to litigate.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In a counter to B&H’s suit, the counter-affidavit filed by Kiran Nadar’s counsel claimed that “B&H did not possess a license to conduct auctions of National Art Treasures and thus the sale was void”. Dismissing these claims, in what was a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">centenary year gift</b> to the Dadha’s and a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">rap on the knuckles</b>for Mrs Kiran Nadar, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the Arbitrator has ordered SKN Investments to pay Bid & Hammer the balance 50% of the total sum of Rs. 1.6 crores plus 12% interest along with arbitrators fees as due, thereby ending a 4 year long legal battle initiated by the auction house against Kiran Nadar</b>. The arbitrator also re-validated the Kerala High Court’s earlier order in which the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">officials of the</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), along with advocate Archana Narayanan, were reprimanded for leveling charges against B&H with mala fide abuse of position.</b> The Kerala High Court had decreed that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bid & Hammer had all the</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">mandatory documents to legitimately carry out its auction business</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Through this verdict Bid & Hammer has done what no other auction house has done so far – to walk the talk and prove beyond doubt that it offers only genuine, well-researched works at its auctions and stands by its opinion no matter what the adversity or who the adversary. An extract from Justice Gururajan’s verdict averred, </span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">“In the light of my earlier finding that the respondents have failed to prove with regard to fraud or forgery and also in the light of my finding that the evidence of RW-1 (Menon) and his report do not in anyway prove that the subject painting is not authentic, <u>this Tribunal holds that the subject painting is genuine and answers the description in terms of the catalogue</u>. On the facts and in the given circumstances despite a very strong argument by the learned council for the respondents, I am unable to accept the theory of the subject painting being not authentic in terms of the argument placed before be. I reject his argument”</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“This litigation is probably the first of its kind in India, where a dispute in relation to authenticity of art has been brought before the judiciary. Indian art is on its way to becoming a viable asset and therefore should not be maligned by whimsical opinions. Bid<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>& Hammer put its shoulder to the wheel by proving the authenticity of the painting by Raja Ravi Varma. The award is therefore a triumph for Indian Art”</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">says Ganesh Shivaswamy, the lawyer for Bid & Hammer. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">To date Bid & Hammer have never had to withdraw a work from any of their auctions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maher Dadha, Chairman & Managing Director commenting on the verdict said,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Justice has finally been served and we are vindicated. Bid & Hammer has decisively proven that we have always followed the best practices in the authentication process of our auction sale offerings and all the media propaganda in the lead up to our Significant Indian Art auction in Delhi on 27th June 2014 was the handiwork of vested interests ”.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>762</o:Words> <o:Characters>4344</o:Characters> <o:Company>Bid & Hammer</o:Company> <o:Lines>36</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>8</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>5334</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The judicial mechanism has been utilized by Bid & Hammer in order to exonerate the reputation of Ravi Varma and Indian art. Hitherto auction houses and art dealers have been sycophants to buyers, resulting in good art being degraded by whimsical opinions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Thus Bid & Hammer also refused Kiran Nadar’s repeated requests for an out-of-court settlement.</b> This is a case where genuine art was maligned and if Bid & Hammer had not persevered, a fine painting would have been brandished as a fake. <o:p></o:p></span></div></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>762</o:Words> <o:Characters>4345</o:Characters> <o:Company>Bid & Hammer</o:Company> <o:Lines>36</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>8</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>5335</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxkD6w4pY-igBBKrCVTFeGk6OiZWN2WsHKOYiw_5cQFPnkcd3A2IMPhSpnZhfwn4hudJXXNEH47P1hYP0C-QhcE0v5lsJTlMMuBaRCaLitwqyljrlBysoXSrRDrWQVVXHmN3vFeZioa9A/s1600/kiran+nadar+&+md+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxkD6w4pY-igBBKrCVTFeGk6OiZWN2WsHKOYiw_5cQFPnkcd3A2IMPhSpnZhfwn4hudJXXNEH47P1hYP0C-QhcE0v5lsJTlMMuBaRCaLitwqyljrlBysoXSrRDrWQVVXHmN3vFeZioa9A/s1600/kiran+nadar+&+md+image.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div> The Painting (Ravi Varma's - Jatayu Vadham), The Claimant (Bid & Hammer's CMD Maher Dadha) & The Indicted (Kiran Nadar - wife of HCL founder Shiv Nadar and owner Kiran Nadar Museum)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFG6Yv15tw3eWe89Kl0VcTI3FHgj3bS8yeWWG3eIBlzgDVi_2tn4kl2uNAPCQHXHW5rIoeRpV3BfKYRBIkVhjElP9MkYQdHzcqzzOn9vP-KNdXTTJfUCPsl5tBo-2aIvimTZfh3jbaj8_/s1600/KN+with+MD+and+RS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFG6Yv15tw3eWe89Kl0VcTI3FHgj3bS8yeWWG3eIBlzgDVi_2tn4kl2uNAPCQHXHW5rIoeRpV3BfKYRBIkVhjElP9MkYQdHzcqzzOn9vP-KNdXTTJfUCPsl5tBo-2aIvimTZfh3jbaj8_/s1600/KN+with+MD+and+RS.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div> At the auction venue on 30th November 2010<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcbtx0Nsmyev0hPBHN1h3XNT0wSGhwycmHuSwGji0uTLhDw53gsDucE4zszcHh9BpWfvvCRX-FkDS6blc1Wrc2OkbzLkIKcKRI_ugr-Y-5eVz2nTgrxGZmGelJW_z-2xWVWUdeJTjynvS/s1600/savita+seema.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcbtx0Nsmyev0hPBHN1h3XNT0wSGhwycmHuSwGji0uTLhDw53gsDucE4zszcHh9BpWfvvCRX-FkDS6blc1Wrc2OkbzLkIKcKRI_ugr-Y-5eVz2nTgrxGZmGelJW_z-2xWVWUdeJTjynvS/s1600/savita+seema.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div> Bid & Hammer's experts with the painting in the background<br /><br /></div><div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">ABOUT BID & HAMMER</span>: Established in 2007 by Maher Dadha (industrialist, art collector and also publisher of the book ‘Views of India – Art of the British Raj’) and his sons Ankush Dadha & Apoorva Dadha along with Charu Sharma (auctioneer & commentator), HRH Gaj Singh II (Maharaja of Jodhpur and formerly associated with Sothebys India), Rukmini Varma and Savita Apte (Modern & Contemporary Indian Art specialist, formerly Head at Sothebys London) amongst others, Bid & Hammer’s team of directors, advisors & specialists have a wealth of international experience allied to a deep understanding of the complex dynamics of the Indian market.</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">At a time when the burgeoning Indian auction market was synonymous with Indian paintings, Bid & Hammer started with the objective of developing the Indian art and auction market beyond paintings by introducing the concept of generalist as well as specialist auctions covering not only Modern & Contemporary Art but also Company School Paintings & Drawings, Miniatures, Jewellery, English & Indian Silver, Antique Swords & Daggers, Period Furniture, Antiquarian Books, Maps, Prints & Photographs (ABMPP), Carpets, Rugs, Tapestries, Cricket Memorabilia and a host of other Decorative Works of Art & Collectibles – a first for any auction house in India!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />In </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sync with the Founder</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chairman & Managing Director Maher Dadha’s vision, Bid & Hammer</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">has</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">established</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">itself as India’s pioneering multi-category auction house</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and is known to have offered important works by prominent Indian artists such as Raja Ravi Varma, Antonio Xavier Trindade, F N Souza and M F Husain, besides iconic English artists J M W Turner, William Hodges and French illustrator Etienne Drian amongst others. The decorative sections have had works by Rene Lalique, Mappin & Webb, Dan Dailey (Daum) and T Manickam Chetty & Sons to name a few.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Related Posts:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. <a href="http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-raja-ravi-varma-painting-not-a-fake-arbitrator-2044554" target="_blank">Raja Ravi Varma Painting not a Fake: Arbitrator</a></span><br />2. <a href="http://www.bangaloremirror.com/bangalore/others/Varma-120-yr-old-work-deemed-genuine/articleshow/45507957.cms" target="_blank">Varma 120-yr-old work deemed genuine</a><br />3. <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Kiran-Nadar-to-pay-1-6crfor-Ravi-Varma-painting/articleshow/45541834.cms" target="_blank">Kiran Nadar to pay up Rs 1.6cr for Ravi Varma painting</a></div>4. <a href="http://www.sunday-guardian.com/artbeat/bid-a-hammer-wins-landmark-lawsuit" target="_blank">Bid & Hammer wins landmark lawsuit</a><br />5. <a href="http://www.newindianexpress.com/prcorner/?doc=201412180625PR_NEWS_EURO_ND__enIN201412173744_indiapublic&showRelease=1&dir=25&categories=PRNE-INDIAPUBLIC&andorquestion=OR&&passDir=2,25" target="_blank">Auction House Successful in Recovery Suit Against Kiran Nadar Museum of Art Founder</a><br />6. <a href="http://www.indianshowbiz.com/?p=77437" target="_blank">Bid & Hammer wins historic recovery suit against HCL founder's wife Kiran Nadar's 'fake art' </a><br /><a href="http://www.indianshowbiz.com/?p=77437" target="_blank"> propaganda</a><br />7. <a href="http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/ravi-varma-painting-not-fake-k-taka-hc-appointed-arbitrator-115021500572_1.html" target="_blank">Ravi Varma painting not fake: K'taka HC appointed arbitrator</a><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list-ins: "Ankush Dadha" 20130725T1712; mso-list: none; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>80</o:Words> <o:Characters>461</o:Characters> <o:Company>Bid & Hammer</o:Company> <o:Lines>3</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>566</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list-ins: "Ankush Dadha" 20130725T1705; mso-list: none; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div></div><div><br /></div></div>Art Commentatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418775546495312452noreply@blogger.com0Chennai13.154376055418528 80.4199218755.2588725554185274 70.092773375000007 21.049879555418528 90.747070374999993