A Pair of Iconic Chairs Fetch Rs 10.36 Lakh at Milan Auction, Sparking Concerns Over Overseas Sale of City’s Modernist Legacy
A pair of Chandigarh heritage chairs, designed by Swiss-French architect Pierre Jeanneret, have been sold for €9,500 (approximately Rs 10.36 lakh) at an auction house in Milan, sparking concerns over the overseas sale of the city’s modernist legacy. The chairs, part of administrative office furniture in Chandigarh and produced in India in 1956, were listed as a pair of wooden armchairs (model PJ-SI-29-A) with cane seat and backrest.
The sale has prompted a renewed plea to the Rajya Sabha for regulatory intervention, with copies of the representation marked to the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Culture, and Indian Embassy in Rome. Ajay Jagga, member of Heritage Items Protection Cell, has urged the formulation of specific rules to prevent heritage items less than 75 years old from being exported or auctioned internationally.
“The absence of a clear framework for modern heritage has created a legal gap,” said Jagga. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) does not classify such furniture as “antiquities”, limiting its scope to intervene in such cases. Jagga cited Article 49 of the Constitution, arguing that there is a mandate to protect objects of national importance.
Key Issues
– Lack of clear framework for modern heritage
– ASI’s limited scope to intervene
– Overseas sale of Chandigarh’s design heritage
– Need for diplomatic efforts to halt auctions and retrieve items
The chairs were originally designed for government buildings and public institutions in Chandigarh, a city known for its modernist architecture. Over the years, many such pieces have been sold through prominent auction houses, often fetching high prices. This has raised concerns among heritage conservationists and architects, who fear that the city’s design legacy is being lost to private collectors abroad.
The sale of the Jeanneret chairs is not an isolated incident. In recent years, several other pieces of Chandigarh’s modernist furniture have been sold at international auctions, highlighting the need for urgent action to protect the city’s heritage.
The Need for Regulatory Intervention
The sale of the Jeanneret chairs highlights the need for regulatory intervention to protect Chandigarh’s heritage. The ASI’s current framework does not cover modern heritage items, leaving a legal gap that allows such items to be sold abroad.
“We need to formulate specific rules to prevent heritage items less than 75 years old from being exported or auctioned internationally,” said Jagga. “This will ensure that our heritage is protected and preserved for future generations.
The Impact of Overseas Sale
The overseas sale of Chandigarh’s heritage items has a significant impact on the city’s cultural identity. The city is known for its modernist architecture, and the loss of such items erodes its cultural heritage.
“We are losing our heritage to private collectors abroad,” said Jagga. “This is a matter of great concern, and we need to take urgent action to protect our heritage.”
Image Courtesy: India Express
