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| Description |
British soldiers looting Qaisar Bagh, Lucknow, after its recapture
(steel engraving, late 1850's). The steel engraving depicts the Time
correspondent looking on at the sacking of the Kaiser Bagh, after the
capture of Lucknow on March 15, 1858. "Is this string of little white
stones (pearls) worth anything, Gentlemen?" asks the plunderer. |
| Date | |
| Source |
|
| Author | Unknown |
| Permission (Reusing this file) |
Public domain |
'Paandaan' worth Rs 2-3 crore on offer at auction of Imperial Indian arts
The duck gun of Tipu Sultan. (TOI Photo)
RELATED
The
riches and the fables of the royalty of India, long gone into the pages
of history, continue to charm the contemporary world that doesn't mind
spending exorbitant amounts to get a slice of that extravagant past.
Now, Sotheby's London
is bringing an eclectic collection of artifacts from the erstwhile
Imperial India to the auction table on October 9 - a first-of-its-kind
event that is likely to generate a good deal of interest among those
with deep pockets.
On offer are some exquisite samples of the artistic traditions that flourished in various courts across the country. For instance, there are as many as 11 works of art from the court of Tipu Sultan, the legendary ruler of Mysore (1782-1799) whose personal/ official items have always been a rage on the auction circuit. The most significant of the Tipu Sultan lots is a sword fitted with an English blade, which was taken as a booty by the British when they had stormed the fortress of Seringapatam in May 1799 after defeating the forces of the Tiger of Mysore. Decorated with Tipu Sultan's personal emblem, the 'bubri' or the tiger-stripe motif, it is estimated by the auction house to fetch anything between £80,000 and £120,000 (approximately Rs 81 lakh - Rs 1.2 crore).
The most expensive item coming up for auction, however, is a diamond-and-gold paandaan (a set of tray and boxes used for serving paan), from the Mughal court of the 18th century. Comprising a jeweled big box set on a tray with eight smaller boxes, it is expected by the auction house to fetch £200,000-£300,000 (approx. Rs 2 crore- Rs 3 crore).
There are some exquisite miniature paintings too on offer. Some of the highlights from this section include a Pahari painting, dating to 1830-1840, called The Adoration of Rama and Sita. A very elaborate work attributed to Kangra or Mandi school of Pahari painting, it shows Lord Rama and Sita on a throne surrounded by gods, divine beings and mortals. The auction house expects it to go for £100,000-£150,000 (approx. Rs 1 crore-Rs 1.5 crore).
Another important painting points to an interesting artistic trend of the 16th-17th centuries, when Mughal artists were copying European prints in a big way. That added Biblical subjects to the idiom of Mughal painting. One such painting is The Rich Man and Lazarus, from the early 17th century. A copy of an engraving by Jan Sadeler, it is expected by the auction house to go for £10,000-£15,000 (approx. Rs 10 lakh - Rs 15 lakh).
Speaking about this maiden auction, Benedict Carter, head of auction sales ( Middle East), said that Sotheby's had introduced its first-ever sale of 'Art of Imperial India' following the success of previous sales of Indian Art including the record sales of Stuart Cary Welch's collection in April and May 2011. "The sale will include works of museum quality, rarity and beauty spanning five centuries. With this diversity we have already attracted a great deal of international interest," added Carter.
On offer are some exquisite samples of the artistic traditions that flourished in various courts across the country. For instance, there are as many as 11 works of art from the court of Tipu Sultan, the legendary ruler of Mysore (1782-1799) whose personal/ official items have always been a rage on the auction circuit. The most significant of the Tipu Sultan lots is a sword fitted with an English blade, which was taken as a booty by the British when they had stormed the fortress of Seringapatam in May 1799 after defeating the forces of the Tiger of Mysore. Decorated with Tipu Sultan's personal emblem, the 'bubri' or the tiger-stripe motif, it is estimated by the auction house to fetch anything between £80,000 and £120,000 (approximately Rs 81 lakh - Rs 1.2 crore).
The most expensive item coming up for auction, however, is a diamond-and-gold paandaan (a set of tray and boxes used for serving paan), from the Mughal court of the 18th century. Comprising a jeweled big box set on a tray with eight smaller boxes, it is expected by the auction house to fetch £200,000-£300,000 (approx. Rs 2 crore- Rs 3 crore).
There are some exquisite miniature paintings too on offer. Some of the highlights from this section include a Pahari painting, dating to 1830-1840, called The Adoration of Rama and Sita. A very elaborate work attributed to Kangra or Mandi school of Pahari painting, it shows Lord Rama and Sita on a throne surrounded by gods, divine beings and mortals. The auction house expects it to go for £100,000-£150,000 (approx. Rs 1 crore-Rs 1.5 crore).
Another important painting points to an interesting artistic trend of the 16th-17th centuries, when Mughal artists were copying European prints in a big way. That added Biblical subjects to the idiom of Mughal painting. One such painting is The Rich Man and Lazarus, from the early 17th century. A copy of an engraving by Jan Sadeler, it is expected by the auction house to go for £10,000-£15,000 (approx. Rs 10 lakh - Rs 15 lakh).
Speaking about this maiden auction, Benedict Carter, head of auction sales ( Middle East), said that Sotheby's had introduced its first-ever sale of 'Art of Imperial India' following the success of previous sales of Indian Art including the record sales of Stuart Cary Welch's collection in April and May 2011. "The sale will include works of museum quality, rarity and beauty spanning five centuries. With this diversity we have already attracted a great deal of international interest," added Carter.
comment:-{great} Britain is now forced to sell family silver and heirlooms;including those looted from India; to tide over the financial problems affecting it
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