Famed auctioneer Sotheby’s has swung total sales of $7.845 million at its auction of South Asian Modern & Contemporary Art in New York. The sale has achieved 65.1% in terms of lots and 79.7% in value terms. Eighty-two of the 126 lots offered have been sold out. Tyeb Mehta’s Falling Figure with Bird has scaled the highest price of $1,538,500.
At the same time, Subodh Gupta’s One Cow has fetched a price of $866,500. The Tyeb Mehta piece, which was bought for $1,538,500 had seen a presale estimate of $1,000,000-1,500,000. It was acquired by an American private buyer. In the same breath, Subodh Gupta’s $866,500 tag is against a presale value of $600,000-800,000. In third place is FN Souza’s Orange Head with a price of $482,500. The work was valued at $400,000-600,000. An untitled MF Husain sold for $338,500, whereas it was expected to sell in the range of $250,000-350,000.
Hovering in fifth spot, FN Souza’s Christ on Palm Sunday has been picked up for $266,500 compared to an estimate of $220,000-320,000. Figuring in the top ten lots is also an untitled G Ravinder Reddy’s which went for $242,500 crossing the estimate of $$160,000-220,000. In step, SH Raza’s Prakriti found buyers at $242,500 when the estimate was pegged at $200,000-300,000.
Keeping these names company in the next few slots are Krishen Khanna, Ram Kumar, F N Souza and Bikash Bhattacharjee. While an untitled work by Krishen Khanna has sold for $206,500, well beyond its estimate of $100,000-150,000, an unnamed piece by Ram Kumar has been picked up for $194,500 compared to an estimate of $150,000-200,000. Souza’s Death and the Maiden has outstripped its estimate of $100,000-150,000 swinging a price of $182,500.
Bikash Bhattacharjee’s Portuguese School, in tandem, has been purchased by an anonymous buyer for $182,500 against an estimate of $160,000-220,000. In the final spot is Thukral & Tagra’s Metropolis I at a price level of $182,500 just a few notches above the high estimate of $180,000.
Part of the Dream Weave Walk Network 1998-2010
