Heritage furniture goes missing from art college

Even as Chandigarh’s iconic French-styled heritage furniture continues to fetch staggering prices at international auctions, concerns over the loss of these cultural artefacts have mounted.

Ajay Jagga, a city-based lawyer and member of the Chandigarh Administration’s Heritage Items Protection Cell, had flagged the issue of the auction of a set of four heritage chairs from the city in the US by renowned auction house Wright for an impressive Rs 9.67 lakh on January 9.

The chairs, once part of student residences at Panjab University, underscore the historical and cultural value of Chandigarh’s furniture.

Meanwhile, a report submitted by Government College of Art, Sector 10, to the Department of Urban Planning, Chandigarh, highlights a disturbing trend of several heritage furniture pieces going missing from the college.

Comparing the inventory list from 2012 with the current one compiled in July, the report reveals that two wooden tables, four easy wooden chairs, four wooden racks, seven long wooden stools with four legs, three long wooden stools with two legs and one wooden bench are missing.

More troubling is the case of 15 sofa chairs that were stolen from the college in 2016. Although they were recovered soon after, the chairs remain in police custody. A wooden table was taken and reportedly burnt by the culprits during the same incident.

Over the years, city’s heritage furniture has become a prized possession for collectors worldwide. Wooden tables from the city’s collection have sold for 6,000 to 18,000 Euros, while chairs have fetched over 2,000 Euros each and benches have commanded prices exceeding 10,000 Euros.

Besides the missing items, many pieces in the college’s current inventory are listed as “broken/in parts or unserviceable”. Of the 20 easy wooden chairs, only three remain functional and the rest are broken. All five sofa chairs and three wooden stools are also damaged beyond use. Of 78 library chairs, 46 are serviceable and 32 are unusable. Similarly, of the three wooden benches, only one is functional.

Expressing grave concern over the neglect, Ajay Jagga said, “Despite the loss of heritage items, there has been a lack of decisive action — no official cognisance, police reports or accountability measures. These artefacts are integral to Chandigarh’s identity, embodying both historical and cultural significance. We must strengthen surveillance systems, particularly in institutions housing these items, and appoint dedicated heritage officers with the authority to coordinate with law enforcement agenices, monitor cases of theft or misplacement and conduct regular audits. If immediate action isn’t taken, we risk losing the city’s heritage,” said Jagga.

The art college report paints a grim picture of the neglect of heritage items and underscores the urgent need for robust measures to protect these priceless artefacts. As Chandigarh’s heritage continues to gain global recognition, ensuring its preservation has never been more critical.

Efforts to contact Government College of Art principal Prof Alka Jain for comments were unsuccessful.