London: The Auction House Sothebys of London held its inaugural 'Indian and Islamic Art week' putting on display a high profile series of Public exhibitions and auctions from October 3 to October 8. The exhibition was divided into three areas - the Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art, Art of Imperial India and Art from the Islamic world.
While works of renowned artists like Tyeb Mehta, Hussain, Martin Francis Souza, Akbar Padamse were displayed in the Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art section, art of Imperial India saw an important diamond-set and enamelled gold parade necklace from 1850-75 and 31 photo albums collection by Sven Gahlin from the late 1850's to the early 20th century India among many others.
"This has been a fabulous collaboration. 500 years of art in India is under one roof," Senior Director International Head of Indian and South Asian Art-Sothebys Yamini Mehta said.
One of the key highlights from the exhibition was this 'Blue Painting' by celebrated artist Tyeb Mehta, a key transitional work by the celebrated artist from the 19th Century.
A beautiful torque necklace also called as 'Hasli' which has its origin in Bikaner, Rajasthan in the early 19th centruy was valued at between Rs 2.5 crores to Rs 3 crores.
Others included a collection of rare photographs spanning over 60 years and taken by various photograpers and some Viceroys of British India giving a rare glimpse of life in the subcontinent.
"This is a collection of 31 albums. It is like a 60 yearr period of photographs," Director, Specialist Books and Manuscripts Richard Fattorini said.
The public exhibition at Sothebys was followed by an auction of the works by the artists and crafstsmen of the Indian Subcontinent.
The sale was led by Tyeb Mehta's 'Blue Painting' bought by an anonymous bidder for over Rs 11 crore (Rs 110,443,298 crore) and nearly doubling its low estimate. Akbar Padamsee's iconic Prophet I, 1952, fetched more than three-times the low estimate when it sold for over Rs % crore (Rs 52,382,807).
A new world record was set for any work at auction by the Delhi-based artist Mrinalini Mukherjee. whose large-scale suspended figure made from woven hemp, Sri (Deity), 1982 was bought by an Indian collector for over Rs 9 lakh (Rs 9,726,120).
Elated by the outcome, Sothbeys said that there is a huge appetite for work coming out of India and plan to make the Indian and Islamic art week an annual event.
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