TOI Correspondent from London: A garland which Gandhi wore on his 1930 Salt March failed to attract any buyers at an auction in London on Wednesday.
The garland and a photo of Gandhi being presented with it had been up for auction in lot 102 at the Islamic and Indian art online sale held by Lyon & Turnbull auction house, with an estimate of £21 lakh to Rs 32 lakh (£20,000 to £30,000).
The Dandi March was one of the most successful campaigns in Gandhi’s struggle against British rule in India.
The garland, made of pink cloth, card, gold threads, sequins and folded paper wrappers inscribed in Gujarati,was in the collection of Dr Balvantrai N Kanuga, Gandhi’s personal physician, and thence by descent.
The faded photo shows his wife Nanduben placing the garland around Gandhi’s neck. The caption states “Gandhiji Nanduben Kanuga. On the day of Dandi March. At Bungalow 12th March 1930”, which suggests the garland was presented to Gandhi when the procession passed near their Ahmedabad home.
Kristina Sanne, head of the sale, told TOI: “Whilst the Gandhi garland did not sell, I am thrilled with the overall results of the Indian section. The Indian art section saw frantic bidding throughout and was over 90% sold. The results show a real buoyancy with the Indian market.”
A Rajasthani miniature from the collection of VS Naipaul sold for £7,056, and a rare group of Indo-Portuguese mother-of-pearl vessels from a Scottish estate sold for over £75,500. An illustration from a Bhagavata Purana series attributed to Manaku of Guler sold for £27,700.