Mumbai’s Art Deco Furniture Takes Centre Stage in Saffronart’s The Design Sale

Mumbai 24 July 2018: Saffronart’s annual The Design Sale on 8-9 August 2018 features 59 lots of furniture from across India, reflecting its rich design history. In the wake of UNESCO's recent addition of Mumbai's Art Deco buildings to the World Heritage List, the Art Deco style is highlighted through carefully selected cabinets, tables, and seating. Brought to India in the early 20th century through influential royal families and trade merchants, the Art Deco aesthetic influenced not just the architectural facade of Mumbai, but its interiors as well. Also featured in the sale are chairs, tables and desks that heralded the arrival of modernist architecture in post-Independence India. Their iconic style, rooted in attention to functionality and comfort, provides an interesting contrast to the intricately carved furniture from Ahmedabad that is also included in The Design Sale. The lots on offer are attractively priced, with estimates ranging from INR 15,000 – 6.3 lakhs (USD 250 – 9,265). Among these is an Art Deco Sideboard (lot 53), made of teak and estimated at INR 2.5 – 3 lakhs (USD 3,680 - 4,415), and an Art Deco Secretarial Desk (lot 44), estimated at INR 1.1 – 1.3 lakhs (USD 1,620 - 1,915). The 20 Art Deco lots offer an excellent opportunity to include a part of Mumbai’s unique design heritage into a modern home. The highest value lot in this sale is an intricately Carved Davenport Desk (lot 1), attributed to the Ahmedabad Wood Carving Company. Estimated at INR 5.3 – 6.3 lakhs (USD 7,795 - 9,265), it represents Gujarat’s rich tradition of woodworking, seen in the local architecture and furniture. This decorative tradition became popular in the international market through the pioneering efforts of American furniture designer Lockwood de Forest, who set up the Ahmedabad Wood Carving Company in the late 19th century, combining local craftsmanship with his unique design aesthetic. Ahmedabad also hosted the internationally renowned American architect George Nakashima, who was invited to design furniture for the National Institute of Design in 1964. He incorporated a touch of Japanese simplicity into the complexity of woodcraft in his designs. The set of two Grass-Seated Chairs (lot 37), designed in Ahmedabad and estimated at INR 1.8 – 2.2 lakhs (USD 2,650 - 3,240), embody Nakashima’s spiritual aesthetic and the unique beauty of the Indian Rosewood he admired. Also on offer is a Grass-Seated Stool, George Nakashima (lot 38), estimated at INR 1.25 – 1.75 lakhs (USD 1,840 - 2,575). The auction will take place on saffronart.com, and is preceded by viewings at the Saffronart gallery in Mumbai from 1 – 9 August 2018. All lots can be viewed on saffronart.com. Auction: 8 – 9 August 2018 on saffronart.com Viewings in Mumbai: 1 – 9 August 2018 11 am – 7 pm, Monday to Saturday 11 am – 4 pm on Sunday, 5 August Venue: Saffronart, Industry Manor, Ground Floor Appasaheb Marathe Marg Prabhadevi, Mumbai 400025

HIGHLIGHTS

Lot 1: CARVED DAVENPORT DESK Attributed to Ahmedabad Wood Carving Company

Rosewood with brass hardware 52.75 x 26.25 x 28.75 in (134.3 x 66.6 x 73 cm)

Estimate: INR 5.3 – 6.3 lakhs (USD 7,795 - 9,265) Image courtesy of Saffronart

Lot 11: ART DECO DISPLAY CABINET Teak with glass and brass hardware

73 x 30 x 12.5 in (186 x 76 x 32.3 cm) Estimate: INR 75,000 - 95,000 (USD 1,105 - 1,400)

Image courtesy of Saffronart

Lot 37: GRASS-SEATED CHAIR, GEORGE NAKASHIMA (Set of two) Sheesham with rope

25.5 x 23.5 x 17 in (64.9 x 60 x 45.5 cm) each Estimate: INR 1.8 – 2.2 lakhs (USD 2,650 - 3,240)

Image courtesy of Saffronart

Lot 38: GRASS-SEATED STOOL, GEORGE NAKASHIMA Sheesham with rope

10 x 24 x 24.25 in (25.5 x 61.2 x 61.6 cm) Estimate: INR 1.25 – 1.75 lakhs (USD 1,840 - 2,575)

Image courtesy of Saffronart

Lot 39: FINN JUHL-STYLE OCCASIONAL CHAIR (Set of two) Teak with brass caps

33.75 x 27.75 x 24.25 in (85.5 x 70.5 x 61.3 cm) each Estimate: INR 1 – 1.5 lakhs (USD 1,475 – 2,210)

Image courtesy of Saffronart

Lot 44: ART DECO SECRETARIAL DESK Ebonised teak with brass hardware

30 x 85.25 x 21 in (76 x 216.5 x 53.2 cm) Estimate: INR 1.1 – 1.3 lakhs (USD 1,620 - 1,915)

Image courtesy of Saffronart

Lot 45: ART DECO HAT AND UMBRELLA STAND Teak with rosewood

62.25 in (157.9 cm) high Estimate: INR 25,000 - 45,000 (USD 370 – 665)

Image courtesy of Saffronart

Lot 46: ART DECO LOUNGE CHAIRS (Set of two) Teak with cane and brass rods

32.25 x 26.75 x 24 in (82 x 67.8 x 61.1 cm) Estimate: INR 75,000 - 95,000 (USD 1,105 - 1,400)

Image courtesy of Saffronart

Lot 53: ART DECO SIDEBOARD Teak with brass hardware

43.25 x 70.25 x 19.5 in (110 x 178.2 x 49.8 cm) Estimate: INR 2.5 – 3 lakhs (USD 3,680 - 4,415)

Image courtesy of Saffronart

Lot 54: ART DECO WHATNOT CONSOLE TABLE Teak with copper supports

31.5 x 58 x 11.75 in (80.3 x 147.2 x 29.9 cm) Estimate: INR 70,000 - 90,000 (USD 1,030 - 1,325)

Image courtesy of Saffronart

ABOUT SAFFRONART Founded in 2000 by Minal and Dinesh Vazirani, Saffronart is a leading international auction house with deep Indian roots, and is India’s most reputed. It is headquartered in Mumbai, with offices in New Delhi, London and New York. At the forefront of selling Indian art, Saffronart holds online and live auctions, exhibitions, and prime property sales throughout the year. Saffronart’s focus is to bring transparency to the auction process, and to provide easy access to bidders around the world. Saffronart has so far seen successful sales of over 20,000 artworks and objects across various categories. Saffronart’s services go beyond auctions to include private sales, art storage, appraisals and valuations for our clients, and supporting the efforts of the Indian art world by holding fundraiser auctions. Saffronart has set several global benchmarks for online auctions, and was the subject of a case study at Harvard Business School in 2005.

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