Classical Indian art including miniatures paintings by Ramgopal Vijaivargiya, documents on artist Amrita Sher-Gil and sculptures like a monumental bronze Parvati is set to be go under the hammer here by auctioneers Saffronart.
The live evening sale offers 70 lots from important provenances in India, including impressive personal collections of individual collectors Col R K Tandan, J C Tandan, Khorshed Karanjavala, and Sohrabji K Bhedwar.
"The history of collecting Classical Indian Art itself is full of remarkable personalities. While connoisseurship has languished in the past decades amid a wider audience, its heritage does it enormously proud," Hugo Weihe, CEO, Saffronart and the conductor of the sale said.
Among the lots from Col. Tandan's collection, the Ragaputra Bhramarananda of Malkosa Raga, estimated at Rs 50 lakhs - Rs 70 lakhs (USD 76,925 - USD 107,625), leads the sale of miniature paintings.
"Bhramarananda is one of the earliest known Basohli ragamalas discovered by Tandan and is one of an incomplete set of 65 paintings acquired from an elderly woman, whose grandfather was a court astrologer at Basohli once upon a time," auctioneers said.
Another highlight from Tandan's collection of miniatures is 'Baz Bahadur and Rupmati Riding At Night' rendered in classic Nurpur style and estimated at Rs 9 lakh - Rs 12 lakhs (USD 13,850 - USD 18,465).
Rupmati, a Hindu courtesan was in love with Baz Bahadur, a Pathan, whose fort was stormed by the Mughals and the couple's tale is one of romance, heroism and tragedy .
In addition to miniatures, the Tandan collection also includes two important paintings by Ramgopal Vijaivargiya.
'Important Documents of Amrita Sher-Gil's Interactions with R C Tandan' estimated at Rs 10 lakhs - Rs 15 lakhs (USD 15,385 -USD 23,080), highlights the close bond between the Sher-Gil and R C Tandan, who was a patron of the artist in her formative years.
"He was instrumental in organizing a solo exhibition of her works in 1937 in Allahabad, during a crucial time in the artist's career," auctioneers said.
The lot of 22 documents include a rare autographed
portrait of Sher-Gil, several black and white photographs of her works in preparation for the 1937 catalogue in Allahabad, letters, drafts of articles on Sher-Gil and her exhibitions, essays, preparatory notes, press clippings, and an unpublished draft of a posthumous catalogue.
Jagdish Chandra Tandan, brother of Col. R K Tandan, inherited a number of important sculptures from his father R C Tandan which are part of the sale.
One of the highlights from the collection is Vishnu and his Avatars, estimated at Rs 85 lakhs - Rs 1.15 crore.
One of the lots expected to generate a lot of interest is a 32 and three-fourth inch tall Vijaynagar bronze sculpture of Parvati dating to 15th - 16th century, which was acquired by Khorshed Karanjavala from the S K Bhedwar collection and it is estimated to fetch Rs 80 lakhs - 1.20 crore (USD 123,080 - USD 184,620).
The great collector, Sohrabji K Bhedwar, architect of the Eros Cinema in Bombay, built one of the finest collections of bronze sculptures in India.
The sale also offers several pieces from the collection of Lt. General Dayaram Thapar. Proceeds from the sale of these lots will benefit the Indore Cancer Foundation Charitable Trust.
