Dos & don’ts, Christie’s style

If you thought just Irani cafes had those long dos and don’ts lists on chalkboards outside, think again. Auctions come a close second.

Last week, London-based Christie’s hosted its second annual India auction at a luxury hotel in south Mumbai. Along with a catalogue of the lots (art pieces to be auctioned), media persons were given a sheet of rules to follow, on registration. The list asked media to refrain from approaching any clients for interviews on Christie’s premises. The clients were not supposed to be photographed. The present photographers of news outlets could only take wide angle shots or the backs of the clients’ heads. But no pictures that would identify clients.

Seemed a bit redundant in the end. The “clients” were hardly present. Most of the bidding was done by their representatives anyway.