Ancient Chola Period Siva Statue Sets Auction Record

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bloomberg.com

 

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, March 25, 2007: A rare, majestic 10th-century Indian granite sculpture of Lord Siva fetched US $4.07 million this morning at Sotheby's in New York, slightly above the $4 million high estimate. It is an auction record for classical Indian art. The Siva dates to the Chola Period (860-1297), an era of artistic flowering in Southern India. "It's a definitive example of Chola sculpture," freelance curator Pratapaditya Pal said at the auction. "It's like a major Picasso." The Siva was one of 11 lots sold by Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, New York, at Sotheby's Indian and Southeast Asian art auctions, including panels from a 17th-century ivory casket, an 11th-century Cambodian sandstone torso and a circa 2nd-century gray schist Bodhisattva head. "The market is clearly buoyant for provenance and higher- quality items," said Carlton Rochell, a New York dealer specializing in Indian and Southeast Asian art.

[shvu]

 

bloomberg.com

 

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, March 25, 2007: A rare, majestic 10th-century Indian granite sculpture of Lord Siva fetched US $4.07 million this morning at Sotheby's in New York, slightly above the $4 million high estimate. It is an auction record for classical Indian art. The Siva dates to the Chola Period (860-1297), an era of artistic flowering in Southern India. "It's a definitive example of Chola sculpture," freelance curator Pratapaditya Pal said at the auction. "It's like a major Picasso." The Siva was one of 11 lots sold by Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, New York, at Sotheby's Indian and Southeast Asian art auctions, including panels from a 17th-century ivory casket, an 11th-century Cambodian sandstone torso and a circa 2nd-century gray schist Bodhisattva head. "The market is clearly buoyant for provenance and higher- quality items," said Carlton Rochell, a New York dealer specializing in Indian and Southeast Asian art.

 

How did these items end up in a US auction? One one end we have patriotic Indians complaining about the British carting away artifacts such as the Kohinoor to their country during their rule. And here we have $4 million worth sculptures going out of the country voluntarily which must have been approved by desi authorities.

 

If the Shiv Sena folks hear about this, there will be a song and dance.

 

Cheers