'Not a single work was a fake': Bid & Hammer

Noted auction house Bid & Hammer does not favour a regulatory body for domestic art unless there is a "broad consensus" in the industry and, in fact, it would like self regulation by dealers and art gallery owners.
The auctioneers, which marked 100 years of enterprise of the Dadha group that backs the auction house, with a sale in Delhi in June last year, is planning to have a representative office in the city soon by the time of its next auction.
"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," Maher Dadha, founder and CMD of Bid & Hammer told PTI.
Dealers and art gallery owners need to regulate themselves first, he said, adding the people who called for a regulatory body now are the same ones who called for it in 2004 also. "But what progress have they made?"
Asked about plans to make Delhi the main base for Bid & Hammer, Dadha said they would soon have a representative office in Delhi and by the time of their next auction to be held there they will be on course to making the capital the hub of their paintings and decorative art auctions.

Asked about the controversial auction of 'Significant Indian Art' by the group in Delhi last year and whether in retrospect was it prudent to have gone ahead with it, despite allegations of counterfeits in the collection, he said, "Not at all. On the contrary it showed the true mettle and credibility of our team who had the confidence to stand by our assesment of the authenticity of the artworks.
"Also, the participation of the known and serious art work collectors at the auction reaffirmed our decision was right.