New Delhi, March 21 (IANS) The Doris Wiener Collection, a collection of Indian classical and South East Asian art auctioned by Christie’s in New York, has raised nearly $12.8 million – one of the highest total price for a single collection by the auction house, Christie’s said Wednesday.
A 13th century bronze figure of Padmapani from Nepal sold for $2,490,500.
‘The sale of the Doris Wiener collection Monday night marked a milestone for the field. Realizing nearly $12.8 million, this is the highest total ever achieved for a single owner collection of classical Indian and Southeast Asian Art at Christie’s,’ said Hugo Weihe, international director of Indian and southeast Asian art.
He said the collection included ‘an outstanding group of exceptionally rare and beautiful works – testament to Wiener’s discerning eye as a doyen in the field’.
Weihe said several sculptures and classical art shot past their pre-sale estimates including a ‘gilt bronze figure of Padmapani and a bronze group of Somaskanda, sculptures depicting Lord Shiva, Uma and their son Skanda from south India.’
‘It reflects that the market honours quality and provenance,’ he said.
The Doris Wiener Collection included nearly 400 sculpture and paintings from Gandhara, the Himalayas, India and Southeast Asia, assembled by Wiener, a renowned gallerist and collector.
As a leading figure in the field, she placed important works in top collections and institutions throughout the world. This outstanding group of exceptionally rare and beautiful works is a testament to Wiener’s discerning eye.
Over the five decades since her first show in 1961, Doris Wiener became a well-known and passionate collector and dealer of Indian and Southeast Asian art in New York.
