On an extremely wet and windy Saturday in Adelaide, with the mercury hovering under 10 degrees Celsius, Michael Abbott is doing his best to downplay his status. Inside the Art Gallery of South Australia, engraved on the board of directors, his name heads the list. “It wasn’t important enough to mention,” shrugs the Chairman.

One of Australia’s most reputed Queen’s Counsels', Abbott is a barrister and solicitor who takes on and wins cases that others may not even touch with a barge pole. Low key and amiable, this connoisseur of fine wines is an acknowledged expert of Indian antique textiles. Equally impressive is his largesse of being benefactor and generous patron of the Arts. How generous? As much as five million dollars worth of Indian and South East Asian art has been donated to art galleries and museums throughout Australia!

The Art Gallery of South Australia has been singularly lucky in this aspect. As Abbott clarifies, “Unlike major European or American museum cities, Adelaide has neither been large nor rich. For nearly a 100 years, our gallery has enjoyed private patronage. Ninety per cent of the collections are gifts of works of art or purchases made with private money. Like this one. Isn’t it just magnificent?”

He’s pointing to a 16th century Nataraja Shiva, 75 cm tall – a priceless bronze sculpture of the Vijayanagar period. Could the artist have ever have imagined his creation finding a home on a continent thousands of miles away, in a city that would only take birth 300 years later?

Another sandstone figurine, sculpted way back in the twelfth century is from Madhya Pradesh. Agni, God of Fire, immortal in all his glory surrounded by mortal creatures. Equally imposing from the same period is the intricately carved, black stone image of Sri Mallinath, 19th Tirankara from Gujarat. Both these works were acquired by Abbott in the ’80s at London auctions.

Instrumental in encouraging other rich and powerful persons to donate and expand the gallery’s collections, Michael Abbott’s pride of place sprung from his having fallen in love with India, and with Gujarat in particular. “For the last 30 years, first alone, then with my ex-wife, now with my current wife Sue Crafter, I have been visiting India at least twice a year.” His cheerful bonhomie has garnered an eclectic crowd of friends, from the powerful corporate to the poverty line artisan, from famous painters to unknown poets.

In 2000, when Gujarat was devastated by the powerful quake, Abbott’s first thought was for the poor artisans of Kutch. A month later, he flew in with a delegation of rich fellow Australians, handed over a handsome sum to the villagers now living out in the open and ensured that they would resume their handicrafts.

The Abbotts have set up home in a gorgeous turn-of-the-century historic stru- cture. Enter, and you’ve stepped right into an Indian museum, where art and architecture can be touched, caressed and admired! A large pichwai, depicting Lord Srinath with gopis is displayed in a magnificent colourful sweep. In a corner of the lofty formal reception room with its 30-foot ceiling stands a small Jain temple, with daily offerings. Adjacent is a 10th century Vishnu statue that was acquired at Sotheby’s in 1970.

For Abbott, the collector, objects d’art are not just well, objects. He also boasts the largest collection of Indian antique textiles and clothes in Australia. Silk saris kissed by gold, odhanis touched with crimson, kurtas and cholis tumbling out of closets and wooden cupboards, in rooms specially allotted to lovingly hold these treasures. It is reminiscent of Aladdin’s cave.

The majority of these have been bequeathed to different museums in Aus- tralia and some to Abbott’s wife Sue and a few close friends. “In the meantime, I do use them for interesting evenings!” And to illustrate his point, Michael Abbott, the Renaissance man, hosts an Indian dinner party two nights later – turbans and superb wine galore....