Chitralekha Spots Fake Paintings at Bonhams Auction –
Were trying to sell with fake Chitralekha stamp
Popularity can have its pitfalls! Thanks to the support of art lovers from across the world, Mukul Dey Archives “Chitralekha” has steadily grown to be a respected repository of important documents, printed information and images of early 20th century Indian art scenario.
But we were shocked to find our name dragged in as “authenticator” of art works, something which we have never ever done, when we spotted two fake paintings which were about to go under the hammer at the prestigious Bonhams auction at San Francisco on June 18, 2007.
Two evidently forged Jamini Roy works, claiming to have inscribed on the verso as: "the verso stamped and signed Mukul Dey Archives, Chitralekha, Since 1928", were included in the catalogue under Lot No.s 6142 and 6144 as part of the Sale No. 15288 of Bonhams!
| Lot No. 6143 at Sale No. 15288, on June 18, 2007 at Bonhams |
Lot No. 6144 at Sale No. 15288, on June 18, 2007 at Bonhams |
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Jamini Roy (1887-1972): The Crucifixion
Tempera on card, signed in Bengali lower right, the verso faintly stamped and signed
Mukul Dey Archives, Chitralekha, Since 1928, framed.
17 3/4 x 12 1/4in (45.1 x 31.1cm)
Estimate: $7,000 - 9,000
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Jamini Roy (1887-1972): Three Figures With Drums
Tempera on card, signed in Bengali lower right, the verso stamped and signed
Mukul Dey Archives, Chitralekha, Since 1928, framed.
13 1/8 x 17 3/4in (33.3 x 45.1cm)
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The auctioneers couldn’t sell the forgeries though! The paintings [Lot Nos. 6142 and 6144] were identified as fakes and were subsequently WITHDRAWN from Bonhams Sale No. 15288 at San Francisco on June 18. 2007.
In the meantime, the Mukul Dey Archives Trust has sent a number of protest letters (altogether 4 sets of letters to Bonhams Knightsbridge HQ, Bonhams & Butterfields of San Francisco and Bonhams New Bond Street, UK on September 7 and 8, 2007 respectively) to this auctioneer, which failed to elicit any reply from Bonhams so far. Mukul Dey Archives FAILS TO understand the reason of Bonhams’ silence!
Mukul Dey Archives is run by a trust registered with the Government of India. Never in the past have we authenticated any works by Jamini Roy or any other artist what so ever, nor do we intend to do. |
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This Public Notice was published on
Oct 5, 2007, in The Telegraph
Calcutta
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