UT heritage sold for Rs 4.8 cr in France

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 1

Breaking  all records  of previous  auctions, furniture designed by master architects Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret fetched over Rs 4.8 crore at an auction held at Chantilly city in France recently. Over 45 items were  sold at the  auction, which fetched the highest amount in one go.

This was the second auction of heritage items within a month after the auction  in New York on June 9 in which items were sold for over Rs 1 crore.

Ajay Jagga, a social activist, has taken up the issue with the Economic Offences Cell   of the CBI and demanded an inquiry into how the furniture reached foreign shores. 

He said a large number of items, prepared for the Chandigarh Administration by Le Corbusier and his cousin Pierre Jeanneret, were being auctioned in the US and France on a regular basis without any fear of law-enforcing agencies for over 10 years now.

The items which were  sold  in the latest auction include  a set of two armchairs made of teak, a rectangular tray, a set of two high stools and a coffee table.

The auction also included a rare and exceptionally low seat called  kangaroo, which was designed  by Pierre Jeanneret. The furniture that was auctioned was from UT government buildings, Panjab University and the Sector 16 hospital.

45 furniture items rake in highest amount in one go

Over 45 furniture items were sold at the auction, which fetched the highest amount in one go. This was the second auction of heritage items within a month after the auction in New York on June 9 in which items were sold for over Rs 1 crore.