Stele of Rishabhanata

Stele of Rishabhanata

In March 2016, federal agents seized this Stele of Rishbhanata (along with the statue of Revanta and his Entourage) from Christie's New York. The investigation originated from a search executed by law enforcement at a storage facility belonging to Manhattan dealer Subhash Kapoor on January 5, 2012. During the search, officials discovered a computer disc containing images of stolen antiquities filed under diverse dealers, including a folder entitled "Shantoo." This folder contained a photograph labeled “Jainsi0B00,” which showed the stele in dirt and with a tape measure.

The object had not been acquired by Kapoor, but by the private Lahiri Collection in 1989, and consigned to Oliver Forge at the London-based gallery Brandon Lynch Ltd between 2006 and 2007. The sculpture did not sell and was returned to the Lahiris.

The sculpture was later listed for sale as Lot 61 in "The Lahiri Collection: Indian and Himalayan Art, Ancient and Modern” (Sale 12255) scheduled for March 15, 2016, with an estimated price range of USD 100,000 to 150,000. The auction catalog claimed it was "acquired in London by 1999.”

1

Sculpture

Stele

Jain

Christie's, New York

Drs. Avijit and Bratati Lahiri (The Lahiri Collection)

India

Jason Felch

VG