Government Approved Art & Antiques Practice

India's Government Approved Art & Antiques Valuers — A2Z Valuers

A2Z Valuers is the government-approved authority on art and antiques valuation in India. Led by Nitesh ShrivastavaCivil Engineer, Government Approved Valuer, and Proprietor — the practice issues court-defensible valuation reports for paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, Mughal and Rajput miniatures, temple bronzes, colonial decorative arts, manuscripts, numismatic collections, carpets, textiles, arms and armour, jade, ivory and hardstone — every category of art and antique transacted in the Indian and international market.

Comparables are benchmarked against the catalogues of Christie's, Sotheby's, Bonhams, Phillips, Saffronart, AstaGuru, Pundole's and DAG, while provenance analysis is conducted to the professional standards expected by India's leading galleries, including Dhoomimal Gallery, Vadehra Art Gallery, DAG, Sakshi Gallery, Chemould Prescott Road, Apparao Galleries and Gallery Sumukha.

250+

Valuation Services

PAN

India Coverage

Global

Auction Benchmarks

Govt.

Approved Reports
Nitesh Shrivastava

Nitesh Shrivastava

Civil Engineer Government Approved Valuer Proprietor — A2Z Valuers
Government Approved Art & Antiquities Valuer

Nitesh Shrivastava

Government Approved Valuer Registered Valuation Expert
+91-9999992343 +91 8800371371
250+ Services 20+ Years

Professional Authorities & Statutory Registrations

Income Tax Department – Delhi
Income Tax Department – Uttar Pradesh
Income Tax Department – Lucknow
Income Tax Department – Goa
Income Tax Department – Karnataka
Income Tax Department – Mumbai
Income Tax Department – Hyderabad
Income Tax Department – Panchkula
Income Tax Department – Karnal
Income Tax Department – Guwahati
Black Money Act Authorised Valuer
Directorate of Enforcement (ED)
Customs Department Delhi
Delhi High Court & District Courts
Wealth Tax Act
Income Tax Act & IBBI
THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK

The Same Collector. Two Legal Frameworks. One Valuer Who Must Navigate Both.

Understanding both the commercial art market and India's statutory framework is essential for producing reliable valuation reports.

In India, the collector who buys a Husain canvas at AstaGuru, a 17th-century Mughal miniature at Sotheby's, and a Chola bronze from a reputable Delhi dealer is one collector—operating in what the market treats as a single space: the art and antiques market. However, the legal frameworks governing these categories are entirely different, and a valuer must understand both to provide accurate professional advice.

Modern and contemporary Indian art is governed primarily by the Income Tax Act for capital gains, insurance valuation, estate planning and financial reporting, together with the general principles of ownership and title. Antiquities—objects more than 100 years old—are additionally regulated under the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972, requiring ASI registration, restricting export, regulating dealer licensing, and providing for compulsory acquisition by the Government.

A valuer unfamiliar with the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972 cannot correctly advise whether an object requires ASI registration before it can be insured, sold, donated or exported. Likewise, a valuer without knowledge of auction house comparables for Mughal miniatures, Chola bronzes, Tanjore paintings, colonial silver and Anglo-Indian furniture cannot accurately determine their fair market value for taxation, estate or insurance purposes.

A2Z Valuers understands both frameworks. That is what makes this practice the right choice for the Indian art and antiques market.

01

Income Tax Act

  • Capital Gain Valuation
  • Insurance Valuation
  • Estate & Probate
  • Fair Market Value
  • Ownership & Title
02

Antiquities & Art Treasures Act, 1972

  • ASI Registration
  • Export Permission
  • Dealer Licensing
  • Compulsory Acquisition
  • Antiquity Compliance

Modern Art

Income Tax & Market Evidence

Antiquities

Statutory Compliance & Provenance

One Practice

Complete Professional Advice

PROFESSIONAL VALUATION SERVICES

Art & Antiques Valuation Services

Every engagement is independently prepared by A2Z Valuers using Government Approved methodology, statutory compliance, provenance analysis and international auction benchmarks.

MARKET EVIDENCE & BENCHMARKING

Auction Houses & Gallery Associations

A2Z Valuers benchmarks every art and antiques valuation against the published catalogues and records of India's and the world's leading auction houses and galleries.

Christie's

International Benchmark

South Asian and Indian Art sales, including the landmark ₹119 crore sale of M.F. Husain's Untitled (Gram Yatra) on 19 March 2025, together with ongoing Indian antiques and Mughal objects auctions.

Sotheby's

International Benchmark

South Asian Art sales featuring strong comparables for Mughal, Rajput and Deccani miniatures, together with South and Southeast Asian Art auctions.

Bonhams

International Benchmark

Indian and Islamic Art auctions providing reliable market evidence for antiques and decorative arts.

Phillips

International Benchmark

Benchmark data for contemporary Indian art and selected high-value antiques.

AstaGuru

India's Premier Auction House

Dedicated antiques department covering Mughal miniatures, temple bronzes, colonial silver, numismatic collections and vintage collectibles.

Saffronart

India's Leading Online Platform

The leading online platform for modern and contemporary Indian art, providing extensive secondary-market data across the Indian fine art market.

Pundole's

Curated Sales

Recognised for carefully curated sales of high-value Indian modern art and significant antiques.

DAG

Institutional Market Knowledge

India's leading gallery for the primary and secondary market in modern Indian art, offering deep institutional insight into the Indian art market.

Independent Market Intelligence

Every valuation report prepared by A2Z Valuers is supported by published auction catalogues, historical transactions, provenance research, market evidence and comparable sales analysis to ensure transparent, professionally reasoned and court-defensible valuation opinions.

WHY COLLECTORS, LAW FIRMS & GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TRUST A2Z VALUERS

India's Government Approved Art & Antiques Valuation Practice

Government Approved

A2Z Valuers — India's Government Approved Valuation Practice with decades of dedicated art and antiques valuation experience.

250+ Services

More than 250 professional valuation services delivered across India under one Government Approved Valuer.

Court Defensible

Reports supported by Christie's, Sotheby's, Bonhams, Phillips, Saffronart, AstaGuru, Pundole's and DAG market evidence.

Government Departments

Experience supporting assignments involving the Income Tax Department, GST Department, Narcotics Department and Customs Department across India.

Dual Statutory Competence

Professional expertise covering both the Income Tax Act and the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972.

Provenance Research

Comprehensive provenance analysis conducted to gallery and auction-house standards—one of the most critical elements in Indian antiques valuation.

THE PRINCIPAL VALUER

Nitesh Shrivastava Government Approved Valuer

Nitesh Shrivastava

Nitesh Shrivastava is a Civil Engineer by training and a Government Approved Valuer by profession. He specialises in the independent valuation of paintings, sculptures, archaeological collections, luxury assets, works of art and antiques, providing professionally researched valuation reports supported by recognised methodologies and market evidence.

He has undertaken valuation assignments involving artworks and antiques for matters relating to the Income Tax Department, GST Department, Customs Department and other statutory authorities, delivering objective reports prepared with complete professional independence.

Every valuation report is supported by benchmark analysis using published catalogues and market evidence from Christie's, Sotheby's, Bonhams, Phillips, Saffronart, AstaGuru, Pundole's and DAG, ensuring well-reasoned opinions aligned with recognised valuation practices.

His practice combines engineering expertise, statutory compliance, provenance review and market intelligence to assist collectors, financial institutions, legal professionals, government agencies, museums and private clients across India.

Govt.

Approved Valuer

PAN

India Assignments

250+

Professional Services

Global

Auction Benchmarking

"Every work of art carries two histories — the history created by its maker and the history created by its ownership. Professional valuation begins by understanding both."

Nitesh Shrivastava
Government Approved Valuer
CONFIDENTIAL CONSULTATION

Speak to India's Government Approved Art & Antiques Valuers

Whether you require an independent valuation for insurance, capital gains, estate planning, family settlement, litigation, museum donation, auction consignment or Antiquities Act compliance, our Government Approved Valuation Practice provides confidential professional guidance supported by recognised valuation standards and market evidence.

Share details of your artwork, antique or collection, explain the purpose of the valuation and your preferred timeline. Our team responds within one working day.

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