Antiques from India, including Mughal paintings and 19th century jewellery, along with works of some iconic contemporary artists like MF Hussain are among the range of treasures that will go under the hammer at Christie's mega 'Arts of India' sale here tomorrow.
"This new Arts of India sale, part of London Indian Art Week, includes a large selection of fine classical paintings, from 17th century Mughal portraits to Rajput, Pahari and Company school paintings," Christie's said in reference to the latest Indian collection to come up on the auction circuit.
"It will also feature 19th century jewellery, with a large selection of gemset and enamelled necklaces, bracelets and pendants, and a wide variety of cabinets and pieces of furniture, from 16th century Indo-Portuguese boxes to Coromandel settees and 19th century Anglo-Indian chests," the famous auction house said.
Courtly objects, along with arms and armour and fine ivory carvings will illustrate the breadth and wealth of Indian art, spanning centuries of the sub-continent's history at the auction.
A provincial Mughal miniature painting dated between 1750 and 1760, showing a prince seated on a terrace overlooking a lotus pool, listening to female musicians, is priced between 600 and 800 pounds.
A finer work from about 1770 AD depicts the Hindu festival of Holi and is expected to fetch between 6,000 and 8,000 pounds.
Pahari paintings associated with the Hindu courts of North India are also up for auction. The record price for such a painting is USD 2.25 million, but entry-level pieces can be cheaper than their Mughal counterparts.
Sculptures of Hindu deities are among some of the striking pieces up for grabs. An illustration from the Bhagvad Purana is priced between 30,000 and 50,000 pounds.
Among the paintings which will come up for sale on Tuesday, there is a work of Vasudeo S Gaitonde (1924-2001) priced between 500,000 and 700,000 pounds.
Ganga Jamuna, a work by celebrated contemporary Indian artist MF Hussain, who died in London in June 2011, could fetch over 600,000 pounds.
Other popular items include textiles and jewellery with shawls from Kashmir start at about 1,000 pounds, while a late Victorian gold necklace with diamonds, emeralds and enamelling could make around 3,000 pounds.
