Sotheby’s Chinese Works of Art and Ceramics sale carried through the Asia Week excitement yesterday as their Sackler items soared to three times the high estimate. The auction housed cleared $15.5m during two sales yesterday. The Sackler collection made $4.6m and the various owners sale brought in $10.9m.

The Sackler sale was 95.4% sold by lot. The most valuable item sold was a Pair of Huanghuali Compound Cabinets and Two-Drawer Stands from the 17th century, which brought $1,022,500 against a high presale estimate of $180,000. The various owners sale also topped the pre-sale expectations to bring $10,917,425 (est. $5.1/7.1 million.) It was 74.9% sold by lot. The two sales brought a combined total of $15,532,479 (combined est. $6.2/8.6 million).

Sotheby’s expert, Dr. Caroline Schulten, says that 70% of the lots that sold in the various owners sale went for prices above the high estimates. That’s a testimony to the strength of the Asian market. Sotheby’s will hold its Hong Kong sale cycle in early October.

Sackler Collection Top Ten

Sotheby’s Various Owners Top Ten