Two more heritage items from Chandigarh auctioned in Paris

While a pair of easy arm chairs in teak and wicker designed by Pierre Jeanneret, that had its reserve price between €10,000-15,000 was sold for €15,600, Jeanneret's set of six office armchairs (in teak and wicker) that had reserve price between €30,000-45,000 were auctioned for €39,600.

Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, auction, Jeanneret & Corbusier

Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret. Photo courtesy: Fondation Le Corbusier, Paris; Bonhams website

Two heritage items from Chandigarh were sold for Rs 47.51 lakh at an auction held in Paris earlier this week. Heritage Protection Cell member Ajay Jagga, who had written to several platforms, said he got a communication from French officials on his grievance.

While a pair of easy arm chairs in teak and wicker designed by Pierre Jeanneret, that had its reserve price between €10,000-15,000 was sold for €15,600, Jeanneret’s set of six office armchairs (in teak and wicker) that had reserve price between €30,000-45,000 were auctioned for €39,600.

A day bed designed by Jeanneret that had estimated reserve price between €18,000- 25,000, and a pair of advocate arm chairs in teak and hide that had estimates reserve price between €25,000-35,000, remained unsold.

Jagga had written to the Union minister for external affairs, ambassador, Indian Embassy Paris and deputy chief of Mission, Indian Mission Paris.

Jagga said, “The French officials, on his advance intimation of an auction in Paris, assured help and then later said the matter was inquired from the auction house, on our plea that these items cannot be auctioned, as there is a ban from MHA on exports of Chandigarh heritage items since 2011.”

“It was told that the auctioneer says that the goods on auction landed in France, prior to 2011, and thus there is nothing wrong in the auction. I told them that the auction house must present some evidence that the goods landed there before 2011, in order to substantiate his statement. Then it was told that in order to proceed further in this matter, the Chandigarh government can officially convey this matter to the Indian Ambassador in France, who can then officially take it up with the Government of France.”

He added, “I feel these are the correct diplomatic channels, which are necessary for attempting to bring back our heritage from abroad, which has been smuggled out. This is a great beginning and it took almost a decade to reach there.”

Story continues below this ad

Following this, Jagga wrote to UT Administrator V P Singh Badnore and Adviser Manoj Parida to take up the issue with the government.

“I would like to update you that after the London auction, the matter regarding Paris auction was conveyed to French officials also and they helped as well and certain official procedures have been conveyed, which we will follow for lodging the matter of cultural trafficking with the French government,” he said in the letter to both.

He further stated, “The response of the French officials has been very cordial and they have assured further help, for which they have also requested an interaction between your excellency and Indian Ambassador in France.

However, out of four, two items were auctioned for for Rs. 47.51 lakh. We are very hopeful of creating the proper and legal set up for the items which are lying in foreign countries, bring it back.”

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram