Osian's Auction Catalogue Indian Modern Fine Arts | June 2017

4 Raja Ravi Varma Karla-Lonavala Press Saraswati & Lakshmi - A Bridge Too Far with zari & embroidery artwork on the original Ravi Varma Karla- Lonavala Press Oleographs Oleograph with zari and embroidery work, 1895-1920s a. 19.0 x 13.1 in (48.3 x 33.3 cm) b. 24.0 x 16.1 in (61.0 x 41.0 cm) Provenance Mumbai-based Collection. INR 100,000 – 150,000 USD 1,563 – 2,344 Set of 2 Raja Ravi Varma Karla-Lonavala Press : The first Ravi Varma Fine Arts Lithographic Press was established at Ghatkoper in 1894, but was swiftly relocated to Karla- Lonavala after making continued losses. It was from this printing press that the most famous and iconic oleographs emerged (As with Lots 4 & 5) though the quantum of prints would be most abundant with the reshifting of the Press to nearby Malavli in 1899. After the death of Ravi Varma in 1906, the Malavli Press which had already been sold to the German technical partner Fritz Schleicher continued churning out oleographs, of deteriorating quality but increasing public success. Most Collectors are not aware of this, along with later Presses which simply churned images and superimposed the Ravi Varma signature though having nothing to do with the Ravi Varma Presses. b a 20 | Osian’s–Connoisseurs of Art