Moneycontrol.com

The prices of serigraphs have risen by a stunning 650% in just six months and it shows no signs of stopping. Serigraphs or silk screen prints of original masterpieces are emerging as one of the hottest new forms of art investment. CNBC-TV18 reports on why one could consider buying them the next time one visits a gallery.

Serigraphs are in style for long, they have been the answer to woes of art lovers, who just can't afford to scale the sky rocketing prices of original masterpieces. But now they have also caught the fancy of art investors.

Not to be confused with digital prints, serigraphs are silk screen prints of original masterpieces made in collaboration with artists. In India, serigraphs are primarily printed by 'The Serigraph Studio', based in Mumbai. According to them, costs of serigraphs could be as high as 5% of the cost of the original.

Serigraphs of acclaimed artist, SH Raza are available at approximately Rs 90,000. An original Raza serigraph costs anywhere between Rs 50 lakh upwards. Jogen Chowdhury serigraphs can be acquired at Rs 60,000 to 90,000, the paintings cost between Rs 30 lakh to Rs 75 lakh.

Ram Kumar serigraphs are available at Rs 1.5 lakh, his paintings are valued at over Rs 60 lakh. A Paritosh Sen serigraph sells for Rs 36,000, compared to his canvas price of Rs 12-15 lakh. Most of these serigraphs were launched earlier this year at just Rs 12,000 each.

Art Publisher, The Serigraph Studio, Lavesh Jagasia says, "It's definitely advisable to invest in serigraphs, especially the limited editions. Prices appreciate on the basis of the caliber of publisher, size of edition, artists and how fast the work gets sold out."

Serigraph works by Indian artists are primarily printed in European countries like UK, France and Germany by art publishers. Each print is numbered and authenticated by the artists with most serigraph prints coming out in limited editions. Some artists make their own serigraphs. Prints usually sell on the basis of the popularity of artists.