Sotheby's London Sale: Preview and Top Lots

Close on the heels of Saffronart’s $12.86 million auction of Indian contemporary art are two back to back sales by Sothebys (May 23rd London) and Christies (May 24th Dubai)

There are a total of 117 lots on offer in the Indian Modern Paintings section of the London sale and buyers looking for bargains will be hard pressed to find any at this auction which has a very strong overall catalogue barring a few lackluster pictures. Tyeb Mehta’s Trussed Bull (lot 155) failed to inspire despite its hefty estimate of $270,000-$450,000*. On the other hand, it was refreshing to see a brilliant Padamsee Metascape from the 60’s (lot 154) and it comes as a welcome change to the more recent commercial pictures by the same artist that have been appearing regularly on the block and fetching ridiculously high prices.

Out of a total of 13 lots with an auctioneer’s high estimate of over $100,000 I am calling out the top five pictures with a Price Guide for all the works based on the current market as well as the overall quality of the picture.

FN Souza (L.135)
1961 Amsterdam Landscape

Est. $108,000-$144000






Great buy at anything below $500,000 on the hammer. Good buy even at $50,000 more!

Collectors Mind: Modest estimates should attract healthy competition for this picture. A superior work to the one on the cover of the Mullins book, featured recently in the Saffronart sale. This enigmatic landscape should fetch a fantastic price


FN Souza (L.137)
1956, Untitled (Head)

Est. $36,000-$54,000

I will not be surprised if this tops $100,000 on the hammer breaking the world record for a Souza paper work







Collectors Mind: It was a toss up between this 1956 untitled head and the chance (L.140) but in the end this petite paper work of rare quality won over its more imposing canvas cousin. True Souza collectors will not let this museum quality picture pass without a spirited fight

Akbar Padamsee (L.154)
1967, Metascape
Est. $108,000-$144,000

If quality sells then this should sail thru the $300,000 mark on the hammer

Collectors Mind: One of the finest Akbar metascapes to have come up in the auctions in the recent past. Anyone looking for his work would be smart to go aggressive on this lot



J. Swaminathan (L.185)
1974, Bird, Mountain and Tree Series

Est. $216,000-$324,000

$450,000 on the hammer is a fair price in my view. Add another $100,000 if you are into collecting cover trophies

Collectors Mind: Signature work by a signature artist. This catalogue cover picture should attract a beehive of bidders resulting in an ownership battle that will probably push prices over the half million mark!



MF Husain (L.130)
1964, Blue Girl

Est. $108,000-$144,000

This peach of a picture should easily fetch $315,000 on the hammer









Collectors Mind: The subject as well as the pleasing color palette makes this a very attractive work. If you are in the hunt for a Husain to add to your portfolio this is the one to get. It’s undoubtedly the strongest in the sale.

*Note
a) All figures are represented in US$ using conversion rate of 1 GPB = 1.8 USD
b) Images copyright Sotheby's and original copyright holders

Disclaimer:
All opinions including estimated sale price are meant to serve as a point of reference only and the author is in no way responsible for any errors or actions that reader may take as a result of this posting