Two rare Indian paintings, which surfaced at auction after being found in an Auckland basement, have both sold for almost $120,000 each.
The distinctive works by India's first pop artist, Bhupen Khakhar, were put under the hammer by auction house Cordy's. The Red Elephant and the Interior Of A Hindu House were bought by the same buyer - a local Indian gentleman present at the auction - for the all-up price of $119,595 each.
Auctioneer Andrew Grigg said it was fantastic the paintings were snapped up by a local, especially as there were determined bidders from the United States, London, India and the Arab Emirates.
"He was very pleased, and very pleased to be able to keep them together as well," Mr Grigg said, adding the auction had received "unprecedented interest". "There was a room full of people, so I think a lot had come to see what was going to happen. I spoke to the family member who was sort of looking after it on behalf of the family. She was ecstatic."
The buyer of the Khakhar paintings also bought three other paintings by the late artist Roy Dalgarno, in whose Parnell basement the distinctive Indian works were found.