It seems that this is the case this time again

It is the story of a pharaonic project. An ultramodern city out of Earth in a few years. She is signed to one of the visionary architects of the 20th century, Le Corbusier. This city is Chandigarh, capital of Punjab and the Ariana, formed after the partition of the India in 1947. The name of the city is derived from that of a temple that already exists in the place, Chandi. Between 1951 and 1965, thus the Franco-Swiss architect will imagine that he could not do so in Europe and what must be one that Neru, Indian Prime Minister at the time, who chose him, "the symbol of a free and modern India. Le Corbusier used to quip: "architecture is the game learned, correct and beautiful volumes assembled in light." It will create clean but poetic of the new city planning and drawing especially three large buildings official on Capitol Square: the Palace of the Assembly, the High Court of justice and the Secretariat. But it seems to have stayed in India for two months. His cousin and collaborator, the discreet Pierre Jeanneret, permanent representative of the Agency of architects, will install not less than fifteen years in India and will work to the proper execution of the plans of Le Corbusier and the interiors of official buildings and private homes.

Currently, city living as any Indian capital in a noisy and unruly atmosphere, but it has become, despite it and signing to architectural birth a museum location. At this point that any one of the art market is now established around his relics.

Become a a rating

At the next fair in Maastricht, in March, François Laffanour, head of the Parisian Gallery Downtown, will devote all of its stand to the furniture of Chandigarh. The award be phased in from 3,000 to 60,000 euros. On 16 February, Artcurial also offers a sale devoted entirely to Chandigarh: 88 lots of furniture, documents and memories. "It is regrettable that these objects do not stay in Chandigarh", said the Director of the Fondation Le Corbusier, Michel Richard. That said, this is perfectly legal and comes from Indian private collections or is surrendered in what can be akin to the sales of the areas. All the furniture to use, for example, has become less functional and deteriorated with time.

To save the memory of the place, however a Le Corbusier centre was established at the initiative of the Governor of Chandigarh. But the task is difficult, because the city is led by three entities: the Confederation, the State of Punjab and the State of Ariana. The pioneer in the quest for the modernist relics of Le Corbusier and Jeanneret is the Parisian dealer Eric Touchaleaume. He already assigned to the auction at Christie's, but in 2006 Artcurial of furniture sets from the capital of Punjab. It seems that this is the case this time again. It clearly refers to "its" sale, even if the l' expert expert of Artcurial, Fabien Naudan, refers to "various origins" for objects in the catalog. "" Twelve years I go to Chandigarh, said the dealer. I think that this aesthetic, deeply, is not in Indian taste. That said, all this heritage is managed by a very detailed administration and it organizes for the downgraded furnishings regulated auctions. In the past, all left for a small price, but now, many dealers are put on the ranks. Most of the things that I have collected a decade ago. I think that I helped establish a rating for these objects. "Curiously as the expert of Artcurial Fabien Naudan, the rating of the great architect Le Corbusier furniture is still emerging. "Le Corbusier furniture are very rare and are mainly from Chandigarh. It is a very stripped style, for purists, for some fetishists.

Furniture for Chandigarh

Exhibit features of these auctions is a lamp to interior of 1952 sheet steel in the shape of semicircle, which had first been designed for the radiant city in Marseille. It is estimated at 120,000 euros. To decorate the large walls of concrete of official buildings, the architect had designed for various reasons, streams, ear of wheat, Sun which moulds of wood destined for printing are for sale (from 6,000 euros). But experts warn that it is not strictly speaking sculptures of Le Corbusier. One of the places of aesthetic completion of the capital of the Punjab is the High Court, for which the architect had also designed tapestries of large format - still in place - intended to break down the coldness of the monumental concrete. The sale contains eight projects in gouache of these tapestries to geometric decor mixed with brightly coloured symbolic reasons. Each is estimated 5,000 euros and Michel Richard - the Foundation has many cartons of tapestries of the type - believes that it is of lots among the most interesting of the sale. In the documentation category, there are several models, including the amazing, from the top of the roof of the Assembly in the form of White Cap. A large format (81 x 115 cm), however it is posterior to the creation of the building. The original model belongs to the Parisian Foundation.

Finally individuals should focus on the furniture of Pierre Jeanneret to Chandigarh. The line is extremely refined to the point of in seem sometimes rustic. The most spectacular exhibit proposed at Artcurial is illuminating the 1960s library table meublait the Central Library. It is teak, a renowned wood resistant to moisture and insects, with v-shaped feet and topped with a folded sheet reflector (estimate: 25,000 euros). The lamps of the same Jeanneret made for special residences as an elegant teak straps removable bed are estimated 8,000 euros.

No doubt about the fact that these pieces, testimony of the great history of the India and the history of architecture, should take the value over time.