Sikh Art: An enduring investment
2 7/8in. (6.9cm.) high (11)
11 1/4 x 8in (28.5 x 20.3cm)
Three-thousand, three-thousand-two-hundred for the gentleman in the back… three-thousand-five-hundred for you, madam… three-thousand-eight-hundred on the phone. Four-thousand from an online bidder.
Bidding amounts fly in rapid succession. The eyes of the auctioneer dart from one end of the room to the other, never missing a bid. The mood is electrifying. Finally, the gavel comes down with a thud. Sold!
This is a daily scenario in antique dealer’s salerooms worldwide. As the world's leading fine art auctioneer, Christie's has sold fine art, furniture, jewelry and wine since James Christie conducted the first sale in London on 5 December 1766. And now another dozen works of Sikh Art are coming up for sale on 31st March and 3rd April 2009 at London and will include some 700 works rich in decorative beauty, rarity and academic importance spanning a wide range of geographical areas, materials and time.
6 1/4 by 4 1/4 in. (11 by 16 cm.)
Amongst the Sikh Art items, are “Eleven Miniature portraits of Sikh Rulers of the Punjab”. This is a Sikh mid 19th century gouache heightened with gold on paper. Each miniature of oval form depicts one of the Sikh rulers seated, mostly cross-legged, on a gold throne on a blue floral carpet before an open curtain and floral spray, the reverse with identification inscription. The estimated price is $7310-$10,234.
Another item of interest is the “Portrait of a Sikh Guru and attendant”, a 19th century gouache on paper heightened with gilt, shown seated on a terrace, with a red floral ground, river behind with green gold flecked outer border, glazed and framed. This is estimated in the range of $2,924 -$4,386.
These artworks are generating a lot of interest based on the recent Sotheby’s auction at New York, of a portrait of Maharaja Ranjit Singh by the Frenchman L Massard, which was auctioned for $32,500 against an estimate of $8000-12,000 USD.
This watercolor was possibly the study for a lithograph that was widely reproduced in various publications including the “Biblioteque Universelle, Voyages en Asie”, 1836. The portrait is likely to have been painted during Ranjit Singh’s lifetime
Images courtesy www.christies.com & www.sothebys.com
A SIKH CHILD RULER WITH ATTENDANTS, INDIA, DATED AH1295/1878AD
Gouache on paper heightened with gilt, the ruler shown enthroned with purple gilt cushion behind, two barefooted attendants behind, one with peacock feather fan, and four in front, with a garden to forground and open blue sky behind, a border of inscription cartouches - 12 1/2 x 8 1/4in (31.7 x 21cm)
TWO FRAMED SIKH PAINTINGS, INDIA, 19TH CENTURY
Gouache on paper heightened with gilt, both depicting a Guru with aescetic and vina player against a green hilly landscape, mounted, glazed and framed - 7 x 5 1/4in (17.8 x 13.3cm) (2)
A SMALL PORTRAIT OF A SIKH RULER, INDIA, 19TH CENTURY
Gouache on paper heightened with gilt, shown within an oval with white beard, wearing pink robes and elaborate pearl necklace, gilt sash around turban and feather turban pin, on a brown ground and out black border - oval 3 1/2 x 2 1/2in (9 x 6.4cm)
A GROUP OF THREE SIKH PAINTINGS, JAIPUR, 19TH CENTURY
Gouache on paper heightened with gilt, one of a guru with vina player, within blue and red outer border, mounted - 8 x 6in (20.2 x 15.1cm) (3)
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