Fake art alert at Astaguru auction

Manjit Bawa fake at Astaguru, Lot 45

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which was to have been on sale as part of auction house AstaGuru’s online Modern Art Auction, the work in question was withdrawn from the sale by the auctioneer.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. 

In a statement sent over email, Vickram Sethi, chairman of AstaGuru.com said, “The painting has been withdrawn from the auction as a matter of abundant caution and that does not mean that the painting is a fake…It is normal practice with auction houses across the world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.

(Source: Manju Pillai, The Indian Express, 22nd March 2016)

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Fakes of Raza & Swaminathan at Christies auction?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

William Robinson

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

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