The Osian’s auction sets an encouraging trend for antiquities as bids soar past Rs 1crore

When the hammer went down on an 18th century folio at the Osian’s auction on Thursday, it was for a closing price of Rs 1.5 crore. This was the first time that an item of antiquity has been auctioned for more than a work by a Modern artist like MF Husain.

The Indian art scene has seen many interesting trends in the market and the auction could have set a new one. The folio was a collection of aquatints by the Danielle Brothers (1769-1840s). It consists of three engraved aquatints and 60 hand-coloured aquatints on paper. The opening price for the folio was Rs 8 lakh.

Thomas and William Danielle were itinerant painters who travelled across India , capturing the vistas and “natives” of “untamed India”. A mere print by the Danielle brothers has been valued at $50 (Rs 2,343). Their collection of oriental landscapes is a rarity and this folio has been deemed one of their most important. Most of their original works are national treasures of India and not for sale. Some of their originals canvases have been displayed at the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata. “This auction is not about international names. This book is a national art treasure,” says Neville Tuli founder chairman of Osian’s.

The second highest bid was for Rs 8 lakh for a Durga from Central Java that is a fine study of the deity in stone. Close behind was an Untitled 1967 oil on canvas by MF Husian. It shows the artist’s early style of painting with bold lines and patches of bright colours. “ This auction clearly demonstrates that the Indian collector in India is now ready and willing to purchase and bring back India’s artistic heritage in a systematic and transparent manner,” adds Tuli.

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