Yet again, a Teakwood and Wicker Heritage Chair from Punjab Engineering College Chandigarh heads to an auction in Barcelona.
A heritage chair crafted from exquisite teakwood and wicker, housed at the boys’ hostel of Punjab Engineering College in Chandigarh, is slated for auction in Barcelona, Spain. The reserved price for this unique piece is set at over Rs 3.51 lakh, and the auction, featuring an easy chair designed by Pierre Jeanneret, cousin of renowned Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier, is scheduled for October 24.
The news of this forthcoming auction has spurred concern, with Ajay Jagga, an advocate and a member of the Heritage Protection Cell, taking proactive steps to address the matter. He has reached out to the Indian Ambassador in Spain, embassy officials in Madrid, and the central government, urging them to intervene and prevent the auction.
Jagga, in his communication to the Indian envoy, emphasized the significance of preserving national heritage, citing the constitutional mandate under Article 49. He contends that this auction is in contravention of the central government’s orders.
He further noted that there is a comprehensive ban on the movement, sale, and export of such heritage items, making it imperative to investigate how this Chandigarh heritage piece has found its way to Spain. This transgression comes despite the clear prohibitory orders issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
