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):
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? 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.
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”.
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.
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?
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.
What is your opinion on calls for a regulatory body to check fake art?
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.
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.
What are the best ways of authenticating an art work – authenticating organisations or artist foundations?
There are certain principles and basic procedures that need to be followed to determine whether a work is genuine or questionable.
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.
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.
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?
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.
What are the future plans of Bid & Hammer?
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.
Do you have plans to make Delhi the main base for Bid & Hammer?
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.
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