Chandigarh heritage to go under hammer in France on December 12

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 8

Seven heritage furniture items from the city will be put up for auction in France on December 12.

The items that would go under the hammer are a day bed, a set of two armchairs, a table, a file rack, a set of office cane chairs, dining chairs and armchairs, all designed by Swiss architect Pierre Jeanneret. The items are likely to fetch over Rs93 lakh.

In a letter to Arjun Meghwal, Minister of State for Culture, Ajay Jagga, Member, Heritage Protection Cell, Chandigarh, stated the auction would be conducted by Oise Encheres in Chantilly, France. The auction of Chandigarh heritage items was clearly in violation of the Constitution of India and the MHA orders dated February 22, 2011.

“There is an emergent need to get the matter examined by the law enforcing agencies of France, as to how these items reached Paris despite the fact that there is a complete ban on their export,” he added.