An untitled piece from Maqbool Fida Husain will headline a selection of India's finest artists on September 10, in Sotheby's New York auction of Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art.

The piece features the faceless woman theme common to Husain's work

Sotheby's sale will feature masterworks from four American family collections, the majority of which have been displayed in important exhibitions since being acquired in the 1950s-1970s. Recognising the potential of India's leading artists, the shrewd collectors reportedly built strong relationships with a number of them, resulting in September's remarkable offering.

The untitled work from Husain will sell with a $500,000-700,000 estimate, reflective of its status as part of his respected Maya series of the 1960s. It originates from the historic Abe and Jan Weisblat collection and according to Sotheby's represents an "intensely personal psychological self-portrait of the artist".

The work also features a recurring theme of Husain's work - the faceless woman. This is said to have stemmed from the artist having no memory of his late mother's face, a tragedy that has impacted significantly on his life and career.

In contrast to the Husain piece, Jehangir Sabavala's tranquil landscape The Unruffled Calm will also appear with a pre-sale estimate of $50,000-200,000. The widely-published piece is a fantastic demonstration of Sabavala's mastery of light, as well as being perhaps the finest example of his visionary landscapes.

Check back with Paul Fraser Collectibles regularly for the results of this exciting sale. We are also currently offering a selection of investment-grade artworks, including a captivating original drawing from Salvador Dali.