HeritageFurniture – Chandigarh’s Iconic Jeanneret Designs Draw Global Auction Attention
HeritageFurniture – A fresh round of international auctions featuring historic furniture from Chandigarh has once again brought attention to the growing concerns over the movement of India’s architectural heritage into private collections overseas. On Tuesday, auction house PIASA conducted a sale in Brussels that included 13 lots of furniture designed by renowned Swiss-French architect Pierre Jeanneret. The collection was estimated to fetch between €196,000 and €290,000, equivalent to roughly Rs 2.13 crore to Rs 3.16 crore.
Heritage Activist Calls for Immediate Action
The latest auction prompted Chandigarh-based lawyer and heritage conservation advocate Ajay Jagga to urge the Central Government to take swift diplomatic measures. Jagga expressed concern that valuable furniture originally created for public institutions in Chandigarh continues to be sold internationally with little visible intervention from Indian authorities or diplomatic missions.
As a member of a high-level heritage committee formed by the Chandigarh Administration, Jagga has been involved in efforts to document, trace, and protect historically significant furniture associated with the city’s modernist legacy.
Appeal Sent to Union Ministries
Before the Brussels auction concluded, Jagga submitted representations to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. In his communication, he requested stronger monitoring of international auction houses and greater coordination between the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, and the Archaeological Survey of India.
He also called for a domestic investigation into how government-owned heritage assets continue to leave the country and eventually appear in foreign auctions.
Questions Over Provenance and Ownership
According to Jagga, some auction houses have openly acknowledged that the furniture originated from Chandigarh and government institutions in Punjab. He argued that such provenance details strengthen India’s case for reclaiming these objects.
While the Brussels auction reportedly did not display visible inventory markings on the furniture, the auction catalogue clearly identified its institutional origins. Jagga maintained that these details should encourage stronger efforts to establish ownership claims and seek repatriation of heritage assets.
Concerns Over Repeated Overseas Sales
The activist described the continuing auctions as part of a larger and ongoing issue affecting India’s cultural heritage. He emphasized that the sale of Chandigarh’s historic furniture abroad is not an isolated occurrence but a recurring trend that has persisted for years.
Invoking constitutional provisions, Jagga argued that authorities should strengthen measures to safeguard objects of national significance. He cited Article 49, which directs the State to protect important heritage assets, along with Articles 51A(f) and 51A(i), which encourage citizens to preserve cultural heritage and protect public property.
Series of Auctions During 2025-26
Jagga estimated that more than a dozen auctions featuring Pierre Jeanneret-designed furniture have taken place during 2025-26 alone.
One of the most notable sales occurred on June 4 in the United States, where seven heritage pieces connected to Panjab University, the Central Library, and MLA Flats were auctioned for a combined USD 139,520. A pair of lounge chairs from Panjab University achieved USD 44,800, significantly surpassing pre-sale expectations.
In the same auction, a pair of historic chairs and four low stools associated with the Punjab MLA Hostel in Chandigarh generated more than Rs 59 lakh, renewing debate about the preservation and tracking of furniture linked to public institutions.
Authorities Review Custodianship Records
Following those sales, Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan requested details regarding the custody and management of heritage furniture connected to the MLA hostel. A meeting involving senior officials was subsequently held to determine ownership records and responsibilities, as such assets are maintained by different authorities across Punjab, Haryana, and the Chandigarh Administration.
International Market Continues to Value Jeanneret Designs
Additional sales have also taken place in Europe. In March, a Milan auction house sold a pair of wooden armchairs designed by Pierre Jeanneret and produced in India in 1956 for €9,500. Later, in May, four separate furniture lots, including a desk, file rack, and chairs, were auctioned in the United Kingdom for a combined £20,800.
Jagga noted that these furnishings were originally commissioned for government institutions in Chandigarh as part of the vision of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. The city’s planning and design involved celebrated architects Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret, whose work remains internationally admired and highly sought after by collectors.