The OPULENT COLLECTIBLES Auction by AstaGuru Has Captivated Vintage & Antique Collectors

The 75th 'Opulent Collectibles' sale held by AstaGuru Auction House just finished on August 3, 2022, with amazing results. The 30-31 July 2022 online auction of antique and vintage collectibles produced a total of INR 7,49,38,622.

The auction included an excellent mix of over 250 antique and vintage decorative treasures from a variety of genres, including colonial furniture, crystal lumineers, Persian rugs, and a multitude of ceramic objects from China, Japan, and other nations.

Radhika Kerkar, Auction Specialist at AstaGuru Auction House, says, "The auction result exceeded our expectations, and we observed active bidding from collectors, particularly in the furniture section. Considering that this was AstaGuru's second auction of "Opulent Items" in 2022, the reaction is indicative of a healthy demand for such collectibles in the Indian auction market. By regularly providing a well-curated and diverse collection, AstaGuru is committed to broadening our client offerings to include areas other than art throughout our auction calendar year."

Two exceptional Persian carpets from the Kerman area in the southeast of Iran are the highlight of the sale's results. One of them (Lot 155) is skillfully rendered on a crimson basis with a cartouche border. The pattern of the carpet, which was created about 1930, comprises mostly of floral themes such as palmetto, vine, leaves, and flower buds. It was bought for 35,650,000 Indian Rupees. Lot 119, a gorgeous carpet from the area, was sold for INR 26,18,550. A decorative border drawn in a sophisticated – reflecting design pattern and executed in 1920. The skill of the weavers of Kerman has been lauded for generations and has garnered admiration from every part of the world.

The sale also provided a glimpse of the cultural synthesis that produced the heritage of antique and vintage furniture in India. A remarkable, circa-1870 Anglo-Indian rosewood low coffee table (lot number 219) was obtained for INR 23,43,184.

The marble tabletop is supported by an intricately carved, undulating base with a vine leaf pattern and various flower designs intermingled with eight ram's head feet and legendary animal figures. The magnificent colonial king-size four-poster teak wood bed (lot no. 107) was sold for INR 19,72,628.

The headboard is intricately perforated with arabesque, floral, and acanthus leaf patterns. The roughly 1900 bed is supported by four turned pillars with a floral motif and reed canopies. A big Chinese display cabinet with mother-of-pearl inlay (lot number. 22) was available for purchase for INR 17,08,332. The top portion of the imposing display case is adorned with Pagodas that emphasise the cabinet's magnificent carvings.

At the auction, exquisite crystal luminaires shone as well. A pair of Art Deco French floor uplighters made about 1925 (lot no. 95) sold at auction for INR 25,01,170.

The floor uplighters' thin bodies and circular bases are the epitome of Art Deco ergonomics. A unique Persian floor chandelier in ruby red (lot number. 37) was sold for INR 22,73,500. The chandelier has eight arching arms that hold crest-etched storm shades. The chandelier, which was created in 1850, was subsequently electrified.

In the past, the auction was instrumental in presenting the art and culture of the far east to the western world with its extensive collection of Asian ceramics. A highly carved Chinese nephrite jade dragon ship (lot number 43) was sold at auction for INR 21,73,698.

A ship skillfully carved from nephrite jade, with the bow as a dragon's head and the masts and decks decorated with oriental architectural themes. The ship is set on a foundation of intricately carved wood. A remarkable Japanese Imari jar with a cover (lot number. 83) created about 1880 was purchased for INR 17,07,750. The spherical body is adorned with a vibrant combination of brick red and underglaze blue. The jar's panels portray courtly-attired women sitting in a garden scene. It is uncommon to find an Imari jar of such size, age, and dimensions.

The AstaGuru

AstaGuru was conceived in 2008 with the express goal of developing a safe and secure online auction platform for Indian, Contemporary, and Modern art. The title AstaGuru is a deliberate combination of the Italian word 'Asta', which means auction, and the Sanskrit word 'Guru,' which means'master,' and signifies our mastery in auctioneering art and artefacts in India and across the world. AstaGuru has endeavoured to effectively bridge the gap between potential buyers and consignors by surpassing the restrictions of live auctions as the globe converges into a unified digital universe. AstaGuru makes the process of purchasing and selling art and rare items transparent with ease. Our collection comprises varied categories such as Jewellery & Fine Silver, Timepieces, Textiles, Celebrity Memorabilia, Rare Books, Numismatic, Philately, and Classic Cars. The mobile app for AstaGuru allows our valued bidders to follow and participate in our auctions in real time and without difficulty.