Online art auctions make way for quirky collectibles as demand grows among aficionados

In today’s day and age when everything is moving into the online space, why should art and collectibles take a backseat? Because of the huge demand, a few art platforms are allowing buyers of art and collectibles to get access to collectibles across the country within a couple of hours. Online art auctions are gaining popularity among collectors and art aficionados.

Ashvita Art Gallery launched its online art and collectibles auction platform a couple of months ago. So far they have completed 19 online auctions. Ashvin E Rajagopalan, the founder of Ashvita, says, “The idea of collectibles and why there is a value to it is basic human nature to collect things and based on supply, demand, and rarity, people pay more for certain valuables. The ethos is not just about the market demand for buying and selling. Moreover, it is about the sense that you are preserving something that has historic value. Also, buying art and collectibles is logistically simpler and easier.”

On May 30, Ashvita will be holding an auction of rare books (fine arts) that have literary and artistic value. But what many vintage comic lovers in the city are looking forward to is the Amar Chitra Katha auction that will be held from June 6 to 7. “It is rare to find an individual who has not heard of, let alone read, Amar Chitra Katha. The comics were pioneers in helping understand and spreading awareness about Indian mythology. A household name, Amar Chitra Katha’s legacy continues even today and there is a lot of nostalgia and value for it. We are really excited about the upcoming auction,” he tells us.

Those who are interested in bidding need to register with the auction platform and undergo the KYC process. “Unlike an e-commerce platform, where a product is available in large quantities, at online art auction platforms, the product will be one of a kind. We don’t want people to mess up the entire process and make it unavailable for other buyers,” explains Ashvin.

So, how to identify the market and the buyers? “We study the market and look at things collectors are likely to buy. Last month, we had an auction for stock and bond certificates. It’s called scripophily and we even didn’t know such a collection existed. Actually, it gets interesting when we learn more about the market. Anything that was created for the decorative and artistic purpose will have a collector’s market,” he adds.

A few galleries from the city are planning to enter the digital space and one among them is Focus Art Gallery in Egmore. “Everything is turning digital and we also have to keep up the pace. Today, the demand for collectibles is more than the supply. We are working on an online auction platform to be launched by this year-end,” says Mayur Shah of Focus Art Gallery.