Multiple records at auction of Classical Indian art

A bronze figure of Parvati sold for Rs 6.48 crores (USD 981,818) at a live sale of miniature paintings and sculptures powered by Saffronart and set three major records for works sold at auction in India.
The monumental Vijayanagar bronze of Parvati led last evening's sale at the new gallery space here of the auction house, which netted a total of Rs 16.39 crores (approx USD 2.48 million).
In what is termed as a "white glove" sale in auction trade all the 70 lots on offer were sold, auctioneers said in a statement today.
The second highest lot of the sale was 'Vishnu and His Avatars', which was sold for Rs 1.02 crores (USD 154,545). It also set a record price for any Indian stone sculpture to be sold at auction in India.

Two Basohli Ragamalas - Ragaputra Bhramarananda of Malkosa Raga, and Ragaputra Gambhira of Sri Raga, achieved a joint auction record for a Pahari painting sold at auction in India, each fetching Rs 96 lakhs (USD 145,455).
The live evening sale was held by Collectibles Antiques (India) Private Limited and powered by Saffronart.

"We are exhilarated with the interest the auction generated amongst collectors for Classical Indian art. There was immense bidding in the room, online, and over the telephone," CEO Hugo Weihe, the auctioneer for the sale, said.
"This sale has changed the market for Classical Indian Art," said Weihe who has a doctorate in art history from the University of Zurich.

Meanwhile in the Saffronart live auction in the city titled "F N Souza: A Life in Line" on December 10, Souza's work on paper "Peasants in Goa" got the higgest bid and sold for Rs 24 lakh.
"A Set of Three Pages" from Souza's personal scrapbook, sold for a total price of Rs 10.80 lakh.
The sale achieved a total price of Rs. 5.58 crores (USD 846,182) with only 2 lots remaining unsold, auctioneers said.
Three of the top ten lots, Untitled (Head of Man in Semi Profile), formerly from the Julian Hartnoll Collection, London, 'A Set of Six,' and Untitled (Priest) sold for Rs 14.4 lakhs (USD 21,818).

The auction also saw successful sales of renowned post World War II photographer Ida Kar's photographs of Souza. Among the seven photographs, An iconic image of Souza seated in front of his 1857 painting "Man and Woman Laughing", achieved a winning bid of Rs 1.56 lakhs (USD 2,364).
It shows Souza seated next to the magnificent painting which had achieved the second highest record, Rs 16.84 crore, for a work by the artist at Saffronart's 2015 September 11 Evening Sale.
An oil painting "Birth" (1955) by the Goa-born artist sold for Rs 26.5 crore, at Christie's New York September 17 sale .