Big Buys

The Indian art scene has seen many interesting trends in the market and the auction could have set a new one. The folio was a collection of aquatints by the Danielle Brothers (1769-1840s). It consists of three engraved aquatints and 60 hand-coloured aquatints on paper. The opening price for the folio was Rs 8 lakh.

Thomas and William Danielle were itinerant painters who travelled across India ,capturing the vistas and “natives” of “untamed India”. A mere print by the Danielle brothers has been valued at $50 (Rs 2,343). Their collection of oriental landscapes is a rarity and this folio has been deemed one of their most important. Most of their original works are national treasures of India and not for sale. Some of their originals canvases have been displayed at the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata. “This auction is not about international names. This book is a national art treasure,” says Neville Tuli founder chairman of Osian’s.

The second highest bid was for Rs 8 lakh for a Durga from Central Java that is a fine study of the deity in stone. Close behind was an Untitled 1967 oil on canvas by MF Husian. It shows the artist’s early style of painting with bold lines and patches of bright colours. “ This auction clearly demonstrates that the Indian collector in India is now ready and willing to purchase and bring back India’s artistic heritage in a systematic and transparent manner,” adds Tuli.

Dinesh Vazirani of Saffron Art,the international online portal,agrees that diversification is a good trend. “But it’s very early to say anything concrete about whether this interest in antiquities is a trend that will affect the market,” says the auctioneer whose portal has also diversified by including antique or valuable jewellery. Osian’s made a total sale of Rs 9. 6 crore,clearly the market is better than it was six months ago.