M A I N   N E W S

Indian art, antiques fetch record prices
Shyam Bhatia in London

A sale of Indian art and antiques has achieved record prices at a London auction with one of the items, a 17th century Mughal inkpot, fetching more than 14 times its estimated value.

The highlight of the sale at Christie’s auctioneers in London was an early 17th century gem-set jade hilted dagger from central or Northern India. Its estimated value was £100,000-£150,000, but it was bought by a Middle East collector for £241,250 (over Rs 2 crore).

A 1680 Mughal miniature entitled ‘A gathering at sunset’ and signed by Muhammad Hadi, Iran, had an estimated worth of £30,000-£50,000, but was purchased by a British buyer for £103,250 (Rs 87 lakh).

Similarly, a 17th century ‘allegorical’ portrait of Mughal Emperor Jehangir, estimated at £60,000-£80,000, was sold to a private Middle East collector for £145,250 (Rs 1.23 crore).

But a later 17th century portrait of Aurangzeb, estimated at £7,000-£10,000, went for the comparatively smaller sum of £44,000 (less than Rs 40 lakh).

One of the most unusual items sold was a 16th or 17th century Mughal mottled dark green jade inkpot that was valued at £3000-£4,000 and was sold to an enthusiastic British buyer for an astonishing £51,650 (Rs 43 lakh).

The Indian items were part of a week-long auction of Indian and Islamic art that raised a combined total of £9.2 million. Some of the money raised, £1,635,800, is being donated to the University of Oxford.

Commenting on the sale a Christie’s spokesman said: “Bidders from across the globe competed not only in the room or the telephone but also online. Works of art from both Turkey and India also generated excited bidding as with the spectacular Indian jade dagger…”

Rare valuables

• A 1680 AD Mughal miniature entitled ‘A gathering at sunset’ had an estimated worth of £30,000-£50,000, but was purchased by a British buyer for £103,250 (Rs 87 lakh).
• A 17th century ‘allegorical’ portrait of Mughal Emperor Jehangir, estimated at £60,000-£80,000, was sold to a private Middle East collector for £145,250 (Rs 1.23 crore)