Gandhi's Buddhist statue gift for sale at Bonha

London, Sep 6: Mahatma Gandhi's gift, a seated 13-inch-high bronze Buddha statue to his Irish friend Emma Harker would be sold on Tuesday, Sep 8, at Bonhams sale of Asian art.

The statue possibly of the Bodhisattva of compassion Avalokitesvara would be sold at an estimated 3,000-5,000 pounds.

On Tuesday, Jul 14, three of Gandhi's autographed letters were sold for 4,750 pounds while a signed khadi cloth, woven by him was sold at 2,125 pounds.

Emma met Gandhi on her visit to her son-in-law, who was in Indian civil services.

The auction house said that Gandhi had gifted Emma, the statue when she volunteered for relief work among the poor in flooded areas of Bihar and Orissa.

"Emma Harker who died in 1957 knew Gandhi well, corresponding with him over a number of years, and on one occasion introduced her granddaughter, the owner of this sculpture now, to him," said James Hammond, head of Asian Art at Bonhams.

OneIndia News