The UT Administration is only just coming to terms with the worth of Chandigarh’s heritage — all thanks to the high prices furniture designed by Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret has been fetching at international auctions.

The furniture designed by Le Corbusier and Jeanneret, another architect working with him, considered ‘junk’ in the city, has fetched exorbitant prices at auctions held in various countries over the years.

The furniture, originally at Panjab University, PGI, the Chandigarh College of Architecture and various government offices, had either been dumped in store rooms or balconies or simply sold off to scrap dealers as it needed repairs.

It was only when foreign nationals bought this furniture from scrap dealers and sold it at exorbitant prices that the city realised its true worth. Some pieces were reportedly bought for as less as Rs 100.

According to estimates, almost 80 per cent of the furniture designed by the two architects has been sent out of the city and has mostly reached international auction houses. The furniture has fetched high prices during auctions at Christie’s and Sotheby’s over the past few years. A library table made of teak, designed by Jeanneret, sold for $ 144,000 — the estimated price for this table was between $ 60,000 and 80,000.

A manhole cover designed by Jeanneret was sold for $ 21,600. A painted cedar and teak drawing table, whose estimated cost was also between $ 60,000 and 80,000, was auctioned for $ 156,000.

After the Administration realised what has happening, a committee was constituted to try and locate whatever remained of the furniture in the city. Details are, however, yet to be furnished.

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