Osian's Auction Catalogue Masterpieces and Museum-Quality III | March 2004

96 OSIAN’S 40 SAILOZ MOOKHERJEA (1907-60 / b. Calcutta, West Bengal, d. New Delhi) National Art Treasure Kiss & Lovers Series (Set of 3) Each signed in English l.r. a . Oil on paper pasted on board, c.1945. 71.5 x 51.9 cm (28.1 x 20.4 in) b . Watercolour and pastel on paper, c.1945. 36.0 x 28.2 cm (14.2 x 11.1 in) c . Watercolour and pastel on paper, c.1945. 68.5 x 51.2 cm (27.0 x 20.2 in) a . Tear visible in the l.r. section with slight flaking of paint in the c.r. and t.l. sections of the work. Slight fraying of margins in the l.c. and t.r sections of the work b . Slight fraying of edges visible throughout the work c . Tears visible in the four corners and l.c. section of the work. Fraying of the edges also present. Rs. 600,000 – 700,000 Non-Exportable Lot (Set of 3) OSIANs S.I.R. ANALYSIS [1997–2003] Present Estimate 470.12 Previous High 2,109 [HT.Mum/15.11.97; work on paper] Previous Averages All 583.99 Works on paper 615.99 Works on canvas 511.84 Auction Average 289.84 Opinion Like many National Art Treasures, Sailoz Mookherjea is significantly underpriced. A few years ago a large collection of relatively small & insignificant works were offloaded on the market leading to a general stagnation in the prices of Mookherjea. Further, given the lack of archival documentation and the domination of the black economy in the Calcutta art market doubts arose regarding the authenticity of certain works. As the knowledge-base now increases, the awareness of the discriminating collector will once again focus on the unique artistic brilliance of Mookherjea, and his high-quality early fauvist & Rajasthani miniature inspired works on paper will find serious domestic collectors. Please refer to colour illustrations from this series and a similar series: Kiss , 1945 (Plate 10); Mother , 1945 (Plate 12), rpt. in A.S. Raman’s Sailoz Mookherjea . New Delhi: Dhoomimal Dharamdas 1952.