Auction Picks I: Top 5 over $750,000

It is not since the Chester and Davida Herwitz sale or the Christies London sales in June 1997 have I seen such a spectacular selection of top quality works assembled all together in concert.

Not surprisingly, its Christies once again who has the most impressive catalogue. With a total of 168 lots on offer, the Christies NY sale this month combines a small selection of contemporary superstars such as Atul and Anju Dodiya, Subodh Gupta and the like. With an overall estimate of about $12,000,000~$17,000,000 this is poised to be the biggest single auction of Indian art ever and the best we have seen in terms of overall quality in nearly a decade.

With over 600 lots on the block, I decided to look across auctions to determine my infamous top 5 list and as you can imagine, it was a daunting task given the sheer quantity as well as quality of pictures. Here are my picks for the top 5 lots in the modern section with an expected price tag of $750,000 or more

VS GAITONDE (lo.99 Sothebys)
1972, Untitled









This masterpiece estimated at $700,000~$900,000 is my pick for the top lot and it should sell for close to $1,500,000

Probably the finest Gaitonde to have ever come up in the auction market in a decade, this is a worthy contender for the world record and to dethrone Tyebs Mehta’s ‘Mahisasura’ as the most expensive Indian painting. This should generate lots of frenzy in the room and on the phone


FN SOUZA (Lo. 23 Christies)
1954, Man and Woman





Estimated at $300,000~$500,000 this is an important work from Souza’s most important period. Anything below $750,000 is a good buy but this picture could very well flirt with the million dollar mark


VS GAITONDE (lo.40 Christies)
1971, Untitled










Another class act by the master abstractionist. He did not do very many in his lifetime and this work estimated at $500,000~$700,000 should go for close to $800,000




FN SOUZA (Lo 38 Sothebys)
1953, Man with Monstrance

Est. $500,000~700,000






The high estimate on this picture by the great master would have been a fair price but trophy hunters might bid this cover lot by $150,000 more to secure bragging rights and making this the most expensive Souza relative to its size

SH RAZA (Lo 76 Christies)
1980, La Terre

It was a toss up between the Gaitonde (Lo 38) and this one but I chose the Raza Est. $300,000~$500,000 to break the Gaitonde monopoly of the top 5. This picture from the 80’s should bring in about $650,000 although works of this quality and period can even fetch close to $750,000 in a heated battle

Notable exceptions from this list are the two quality Tyebs (Christies Lo 63 and Sothebys Lo 121) both with pre sale high estimate of one million dollars and I have no doubt that both will find willing buyers and grab headlines...