Chandigarh heritage goes for Rs92 lakh in France

Chandigarh, June 7

In the 10th auction of heritage furniture from the city this year, nine artifacts designed by Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret went under the hammer for Rs92.23 lakh at Chantily in France yesterday.

Ajay Jagga, member, Heritage Protection Cell, Chandigarh, said of the total items, a teak sofa with inclined flat backrest was sold for a record Rs21.22 lakh, while an advocate chair fetched Rs19.45 lakh and six dining chairs were sold for Rs15.03 lakh.

In a letter to Minister for External Affairs S Jayashankar, Jagga said the 10th auction of Chandigarh heritage items was held at Chantily in France by Oise Encheres yesterday and four items were auctioned in violation of the Ministry of Home Affairs orders, dated February 22, 2011.

“In view of the fact that there is no protest or resistance from the Government of India, continuous auctions of our heritage in foreign countries are going on; there is a need for getting the matter examined from law-enforcing agencies of France, as to how these items reached Paris,” he said. — TNS