With 80% lots sold, and many achieving more than double the pre-auction estimate, the Story LTD auction of “Collectible Books and Ephemera on Indian Art,” that ended last night could be declared a heartening success. The way prices soared for literature on Indian art (including some on Pakistani and Sri Lankan artists) augurs well for scholarship in the subject, which is unanimously believed to have suffered a decline due to shrinking avenues for critical art writing in the country in the past few decades.The auction fetched a total of $148,380 (Rs 98 lakhs) as against the upper estimate of approx. $67,000 or Rs 45 lakhs. The top selling lots, like the ones listed below, saw fierce bidding. Commenting on the success of the auction, Hugo Weihe, CEO of Saffronart, said, “Rare books on Indian art and catalogues of seminal exhibitions and leading galleries have become true collector’s items, and we are thrilled with the response to this sale. It underlines the value of such documentation and increased appreciation among collectors for the history, provenance and context, which is integral to the value of the paintings themselves.” While the entire auction was a collector’s delight, here are the top five grossers.Marg Volumes 1-64, $28,882 (approx. Rs 19.06 lakh)The top grosser of the sale was lot 45, featuring Volumes 1 – 64 of the respected art magazine, Marg. Founded by renowned author and a supporter of the arts and artists, Mulk Raj Anand (1905-2004), it was first published in October 1946, a year before the country’s Independence. The lot that was estimated at $6,820 - $7,580 (approx. Rs 4.5 lakh - Rs 5 lakh), covered issues from January 1947 to June 2013, and featured many path-breaking articles on art by leading intellectuals of the time. The lot sold for $28,882 (approx. Rs 19.06 lakh), at nearly four times its pre-auction estimate.Souza: Important Books, Catalogues and Rare Magazines, $18,606 (approx. Rs 12.27 lakh)Lot 4, “Souza: Important Books, Catalogues and Rare Magazines,” featuring nearly two dozen books, monographs, essays and critical analyses of the art of F.N. Souza (1924-2002) was the next best seller at $18,606 (approx. Rs 12.27 lakh). That was more than four times its pre-auction estimate ($3,790 -$4,550 or approx. Rs 2.5 lakh - Rs 3 lakh).Indian Artists: Set of 16 Books and Magazines, $15,109 (approx. Rs 9.97 lakh)This lot, estimated at $1,895 - $2,275 (approx. Rs 1.25 lakh - Rs 1.50 lakh), sold at more than six times at $15,109 (approx. Rs 9.97 lakh). It features books and magazines with writings by art critics such as Geeta Kapur, Rupika Chawla, Prayag Shukla, and exhibition catalogues by Gallery Espace, Vadehra Art Gallery, Jehangir Art Gallery, among others. This also includes a French-language catalogue on an exhibition of Indian artists held in Paris in October-November 1985. Sher-Gil: 8 Books and Magazines, $12,727 (approx. Rs 8.40 lakh)Featuring rare write-ups on one of the most important modern Indian artists, Amrita Sher-Gil (1913-1941), by the likes of Mulk Raj Anand and Karl Khandalavala — the latter being one of her closest advisors on her career — this lot was estimated at $760-$910 (approx. Rs 50,000 - Rs 60,000). As expected, this too shot way above the pre-auction estimates — nearly 14 times — to sell for $12,727 (approx. Rs 8.40 lakh). That’s not surprising considering that the last decade has seen a renewed interest in the works of the already revered artist, and given her status as a national treasure, any write-up that originates from an individual who personally knew her, such as Khandalavala, will remain a hot favorite with the collectors.Ravi Varma: Book, c. 1903 and Magazine, 1911, $9,036 (approx. Rs 5.96 lakh)This lot featured the earliest book on one of the stalwarts of early Indian modern art, Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906). The book, along with the magazine, sold at 15 times its upper estimate. The book is possibly dated 1903 as that’s the date attributed to it by the copy with the British Library. No author is also attributed but it is believed that Ramananda Chatterjee authored it, since he was the editor of “Prabasi” magazine in Allahabad at that time and owned the Indian Press. This is not only the first book on Raja Ravi Varma, but also the first book on any Indian artist. It is also the only book published in the lifetime of Raja Ravi Varma. Follow@ARTINFOIndia
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