Auction House Profile
Saffronart
International · Founded 2000 · Mumbai, India
Saffronart is an international auction house founded in Mumbai in 2000, known for pioneering online auctions and developing the global market for modern and contemporary South Asian art.
Auction Highlight
The Story Teller
Amrita Sher-Gil's The Story Teller, painted in 1937, achieved ₹61.8 crore (US$7,445,783 including buyer's premium) at Saffronart's Evening Sale: Modern Art in New Delhi on 16 September 2023. Offered against an estimate of ₹28–38 crore, the painting established an auction record for Sher-Gil and, at the time, became the highest-value Indian artwork sold at auction globally. The result marked a major milestone for the market for modern Indian art and for Saffronart.
View the Saffronart lot ↗Fine art sales
0
Specialist sales
2
Founded
2000
Last sync
05 Sept, 02:44 am
Overview
Saffronart is India's leading fine art auction house and the country's first online art auction platform, founded in Mumbai in 2000 by Dinesh and Minal Vazirani. Established to bring greater transparency and accessibility to the Indian art market, Saffronart pioneered online fine art auctions at a time when digital bidding was still largely untested. Over the past two decades the company has played a central role in the international recognition of modern and contemporary Indian art, expanding into live auctions, jewellery, antiquities and collectibles while establishing numerous auction records for South Asian artists. Today Saffronart serves collectors in India and around the world through its online platform, live sales and private transactions.
Specialties & Departments
Specialties
Departments
Auction Calendar
asia pacificGCR continuously monitors public auction calendars published by leading auction houses around the world. Upcoming fine art and collectable sales are presented first, followed by other public auctions conducted by the same institution.
Upcoming Fine Art Auctions
No upcoming sales recorded.
Specialist & Collectable Auctions (2)
Broader specialist, collectable, estate and mixed-category auctions that may include culturally significant material beyond the main fine art departments.
Recent Market Activity
Recently Closed Sales
Recently closed art auctions from Saffronart. When available, GCR displays either the official sale cover or a representative highlighted lot.
Saleroom
Locations
Mumbai
India
Headquarters and flagship gallery
New Delhi
India
Office and live auction venue
London
United Kingdom
International representative office
New York
United States
International representative office
Timeline
Dinesh and Minal Vazirani found Saffronart in Mumbai as India's first online art auction house.
After facing a difficult early market, the company survives and continues building India's online art market.
Saffronart becomes the subject of a Harvard Business School case study recognising its pioneering digital auction model.
The company expands beyond fine art with its first Fine Jewels & Watches auction.
Saffronart launches one of the world's earliest mobile auction applications.
Indian antiquities auctions are introduced.
Live physical auctions begin alongside the online platform, and StoryLTD is launched for collectibles.
The company celebrates its 200th auction.
V.S. Gaitonde's Untitled establishes a world auction record for an Indian artwork at the time.
Amrita Sher-Gil's The Story Teller becomes the most valuable Indian artwork sold at auction at the time.
Saffronart's 25th Anniversary sales establish new records for South Asian art auctions, including a new world record for V.S. Gaitonde.
Market Notes
Sale formats
References
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