Indian masters on offer at Christie's mega auction

On December 3, good food and good conversation were in the air at the tony Malabar Hill residence of art patron Urmila Kanoria ( Sajjan Jindal's mother-in-law).

As part of a celebration held in anticipation of London-based auction house Christie's upcoming Indian Sale, a select group of SoBo ladies hobnobbed over a lunch of mini idlis, dosas and curd rice.

Kanoria, along with daughter Sangita Jindal, granddaughter Tarini Jindal and Sonal Singh, head of department South Asian modern and contemporary art, Christie's, kept the guests company.



In the corner of the living room, stood Jehangir Sabavala's 1974 masterpiece The Green Cape, which is expected to fetch between Rs 1.2-Rs 1.8 crore at the auction. The lunch was a kind of preview of Christie's auction catalogue for the assembled art connoisseurs.

Kanoria's guests have had a week to decide which pieces appealed to them the most. On Thursday, along with the country's many wealthy collectors, they will make a beeline for a South Mumbai five-star property for the auction. On display, will be pieces by Indian masters like VS Gaitonde, SH Raza and MF Husain.




The auction will be divided in two sections. Lots 1-70 will consist of modern and contemporary masterpieces; lots 71-80, of pieces to be sold to benefit Khoj International Artists' Association. The bids will be accepted by the auctioneer in person, over telephone or online.

Prior registration is a must, with details such as a bank account number, to be allowed entry. This is the second year in a row that Christie's is holding this sale.