Chandigarh, July 16: The Union Territory administration has formally requested the Ministry of External Affairs to step in and halt the scheduled auctions of Chandigarh’s heritage furniture in the United States and Spain. This administrative push follows a successful diplomatic intervention in Paris last month, where the central government stopped the sale of two historically significant items linked to local institutions. The current legal and diplomatic efforts aim to protect artifacts that represent the foundational design era of the city.
An official first information report was registered on July 14 following a formal complaint by the UT director of culture. The complaint notes that the disputed pieces are listed with Los Angeles Modern Auctions for July 15, as well as the Setdart Auction House for a sale on July 22. In a formal communication sent to central authorities, the UT culture secretary maintained that the items hold national and international cultural significance. The administration asserted that allowing these sales to proceed would cause an irreversible loss to the cultural landscape of the region.
The items currently up for public sale include a desk and chair set designed by Swiss-French architect Pierre Jeanneret, which bears the stencil marking “SLMB” from the State Legislative Members Block. The second piece is a hanging armchair from 1952 crafted from Indian teak, chains, and ropes. Local officials declared that these objects are recorded within the city’s documented heritage inventory. They further affirmed that the global recognition of the Capitol Complex as a UNESCO World Heritage Site underscores the need to preserve all related architectural and design assets.
This marks the second major diplomatic effort by local authorities within a few weeks. On June 24, a similar request enabled the external affairs ministry to successfully stop a Paris auction involving a teak-and-cane armchair marked “PU Chem/55” alongside another piece marked “PGI/W/CH-0202.” The administration stated that swift action remains vital to prevent these valuable historical assets from permanently leaving the country.
