ISSUE
Friday, August 22, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 73
An Auckland based auction house is offering a superb collection of photographs with a strong Indian connection.
The 60 vintage photographs from the estate of world renowned photographer Brian Brake (1927-1988) includes a suite of images from his famous Monsoon series shot in India in the early 1960s and which first appeared in LIFE magazine in 1961.
The series of photographs taken in Bombay, Benares, Jaipur and numerous other locations charts the Monsoon season and had such impact that Indian Prime Minister at the time Jawaharlal Nehru wondered how the photographer, “got to know India so well”.
The signature image of the series entitled Indian Girl in Early Monsoon Rain shows the young actress Aparna Sen experiencing the first drops of the monsoon rain and has gone on to become one of the signature photographs of the 20th century. This photograph is included in the auction catalogue along with others showing Crawford Market in Bombay, devotees in the Ganges and farmers praying for rain.
According to ART+OBJECT managing director Hamish Coney, this collection is one of the most significant ever offered for sale in New Zealand, “all of these works come directly from the artist’s estate”.
“Brian Brake was a major figure from the golden age of photo-journalism and the quality of these prints is vivid and pristine. Collectors will have a rare chance to purchase a classic vintage print by New Zealand’s most famous photographer,” said Hamish.
“We anticipate strong interest.”
In addition to the works on an Indian theme there are also photographs of New Zealand pictorial subjects and taonga, images taken in China, Japan, Hong Kong and Thailand and a complete suite of his famous series Picasso at the Bullfight from 1955.
The complete catalogue will be offered at auction on December the 9th and is at exhibition at ART+OBJECT from December 2 until auction day.
"The vintage photographs carry auction estimates of between $2500 and $10,000, which says Coney, represents tremendous value, ‘internationally signed vintage photographs by major figures sell for many tens of thousands of dollars. These works by Brian Brake are priced at a level accessible to many collectors.
To celebrate this major event ART+OBJECT has published a superb colour book illustrating all the works which can be purchased at the auction house during the pre-auction exhibition.
For more information contact Hamish Coney, managing director ART+OBJECT on 09 354 4646.
An Auckland based auction house is offering a superb collection of photographs with a strong Indian connection.
The 60 vintage photographs from the estate of world renowned photographer Brian Brake (1927-1988) includes a suite of images from his famous Monsoon series shot in India in the early...
An Auckland based auction house is offering a superb collection of photographs with a strong Indian connection.
The 60 vintage photographs from the estate of world renowned photographer Brian Brake (1927-1988) includes a suite of images from his famous Monsoon series shot in India in the early 1960s and which first appeared in LIFE magazine in 1961.
The series of photographs taken in Bombay, Benares, Jaipur and numerous other locations charts the Monsoon season and had such impact that Indian Prime Minister at the time Jawaharlal Nehru wondered how the photographer, “got to know India so well”.
The signature image of the series entitled Indian Girl in Early Monsoon Rain shows the young actress Aparna Sen experiencing the first drops of the monsoon rain and has gone on to become one of the signature photographs of the 20th century. This photograph is included in the auction catalogue along with others showing Crawford Market in Bombay, devotees in the Ganges and farmers praying for rain.
According to ART+OBJECT managing director Hamish Coney, this collection is one of the most significant ever offered for sale in New Zealand, “all of these works come directly from the artist’s estate”.
“Brian Brake was a major figure from the golden age of photo-journalism and the quality of these prints is vivid and pristine. Collectors will have a rare chance to purchase a classic vintage print by New Zealand’s most famous photographer,” said Hamish.
“We anticipate strong interest.”
In addition to the works on an Indian theme there are also photographs of New Zealand pictorial subjects and taonga, images taken in China, Japan, Hong Kong and Thailand and a complete suite of his famous series Picasso at the Bullfight from 1955.
The complete catalogue will be offered at auction on December the 9th and is at exhibition at ART+OBJECT from December 2 until auction day.
"The vintage photographs carry auction estimates of between $2500 and $10,000, which says Coney, represents tremendous value, ‘internationally signed vintage photographs by major figures sell for many tens of thousands of dollars. These works by Brian Brake are priced at a level accessible to many collectors.
To celebrate this major event ART+OBJECT has published a superb colour book illustrating all the works which can be purchased at the auction house during the pre-auction exhibition.
For more information contact Hamish Coney, managing director ART+OBJECT on 09 354 4646.
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