Air India to sell high art?

Cash-strapped Air India is looking forward to using assets it has built up over the years like priceless paintings, sculptures and even a prime property to ease financial stress.

Cash-strapped Air India is looking forward to using assets it has built up over the years like priceless paintings, sculptures and even a prime property to ease financial stress.

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The company has in its possession paintings by artists like the late MF Husain, exotic wood carvings, centuries-old sculptures and other authentic artifacts, and a prime property in Mumbai.

A company official said plans are being finalised to rent out some of these magnificent pieces and the iconic Nariman Point headquarters in Mumbai.

“We are planning to appoint a consultant for cataloguing and valuation of the art works,” a senior Air India official told IANS.

“The art works may be rented out to galleries around the world. On a later stage these may be sold as well,” he said.

The consultant will have a hard time to put exact value to the huge collection which deals with Indian history and culture.

The richness of the stuff can be gauged by the fact that some 18 paintings of Husain are part of the collection.