History Under the Hammer

The catalogue has a diverse variety – miniature paintings,bronze,terracottas,wood and stone artefacts — from 1500 BC to 1880 AD. Among them is also the traditional storytelling work of Chitrakathis (the migratory community of Maharashtra,Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka),which is seen through their paintings on paper depicting episodes of Ramayana and Mahabharata,an art which is lost in contemporary India (priced at Rs 1-1.5 lakh). According to Vazirani,one piece that will be of prime interest to many participants is a miniature Kangra school Nayaka painting (circa 1780-1790),which is priced at Rs 8 -9 lakh. It is a rendering of the Proshita Nayaka or the male lover in distress in the absence of his beloved. “It is an early example of the school,has a very romantic subject,excellent quality and detailing,superb condition and is a very rare Nayak rendering. That makes it important for miniature-painting connoisseurs,” he says.

While the highest-priced piece is a sculpture in granite from the 17th century,called A Warrior in Action,at Rs 10-14 lakh,the lowest priced is a goddess’s bust,titled Yakshini in Motion,at Rs 20,000-25,000. Going by the response the first auction held in December 2011 got,Vazirani says he expects a stronger response this time. “Based on the success of our first auction,we have put together a larger catalogue of antiquities and miniatures this time,” he concludes.

The auction is on at http://www.saffronart.com till 8pm tonight