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C
ollected over a period of forty years, lots 1‒18
are part of the private collection of a former civil
servant from Allahabad. Together they represent
his journey across India as he was posted at various places
during his career. This exposure to a variety of traditions
and craftsmanship in North India led to his interest in
Indian aesthetics. His connoisseurship of the ancient arts is
associated with many anecdotes, including that of his first
acquisition, on first sight, of a 150‒year‒old statue from an
acquaintance. This purchase, although an impulsive buy,
developed into a lifelong passion.
In the years that followed, he spentmuch of his time feeding
his intellectual appetite for history and antiquities. He
sought and studied literature on the history of Indian and
South Asian art, and consulted renowned historians and
academics to increase his own knowledge on the subject.
Over the course of four decades, he invested his savings
into art and antiquities and built a formidable collection,
most of which is focussed on stone sculptures. He was of
the belief that this cultural wealth was meant to be shared
with the world, and donated a section of his collection to
a museum to form part of India’s historical archives. The
collection in this catalogue is an homage to his legacy and
it is hoped that it will inspire genuine appreciation for the
cultural heritage of India among collectors old and new.
LOTS 1‒20
Closing Time: Wednesday, 7 December 2017
8 pm (IST)
9.30 am (US Eastern Time)