In the wake of controversy over sale of Mahatma Gandhi memorabilia, auction house Sotheby’s on Sunday said it would consider a range of factors while taking a decision to put such items under the hammer in future.
Asked whether it would take a particular stand on future auction of Gandhi items and hold consultations with the government, Sotheby’s worldwide head of sales publicity Matthew Weigman said, “While Sotheby’s wouldn’t respond to speculative questions, we can tell you we would consider a range of factors when taking a decision.”
The sale of memorabilia related to the Father of the Nation had generated a lot of controversy in the past few years with opposition from several quarters to the auction. In 2012, Gandhi’s prized documents on his controversial relationship with architect Hermann Kallenbach were bought by India for a whopping $1.28 million after signing a contract with Sotheby’s.
In 2009, industrialist Vijay Mallya bought several Gandhi memorabilia, including his iconic metal-rimmed glasses, from Antiquorum Auctioneers.
Meanwhile, the London-based auction house is optimistic about its prospects in India.
“We are very positive about the art market in India. We see it as a great area of investment,” Yamini Mehta, senior director, Sotheby’s international head of modern and contemporary south Asian Art, said.
Several officials of the auction house, including Ms Mehta and Robin Woo-dhead, chairman of Sothe-by’s International, were in the national capital for a preview of its “Amaya Collection”, coinciding wi-th the launch of the book India Fantastique.
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