SHIAVAX CHAVDA | Untitled (Set of Three Dancers)

Private Collection, Somerset, United Kingdom  
Sotheby's London, 17 June 1998, lots 119 and 120 

1. There is a small loss to paper in the lower left corner and minor wear and discolorations along the edges. Few water stains along the left edge appear inherent. 2. Very minor discolorations and a few stains along the left edge are visible only upon close inspection. 3. There is a minuscule loss to paper along the upper edge and a pin sized hole and associated loss along the upper left edge. These works are in overall good condition, as viewed. They are in temporary frames and have not been inspected outside their frames. Colors are lighter in reality.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Shiavax Chavda hails from an earlier generation than the Bombay Progressives. He joined the Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai in 1930 and five years later, he went to London and attended the Slade School of Fine Art. In 1937 he moved to Paris to study at the Academie de la Grande Chaumière. Chavda also traveled extensively around India. The beautiful temple carvings, the artistic traditions that spanned millennia and the colorful lives of the rural people, all informed his unique style. Like many artists that moved abroad and soaked in the Western Avant-Garde, Chavda's artistic production also evolved from realism towards imbuing his paintings with the charm and personality of his subjects. He deftly captured musculature and movement in sparse strokes, as one can see in the current lot. These works are from a series of nine brush drawings by Chavda, of his wife, who was an exponent of Bharat Natyam.

In 1945, Chavda held his first solo exhibition in Mumbai and then later went on to exhibit London, Paris, Switzerland and even in Indonesia and Singapore. His works were featured in the UNESCO International exhibition in 1946 and the Salon de Mai in 1951.