Art Market Monitor

Global Coverage ~ Unique Analysis

  • AMMpro
  • AMM Fantasy Collecting Game
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us

Swashbuckling Chinese Bidders Appear at Skinner, Drive Qianlong Vase to $25m

September 21, 2014 by Marion Maneker

Doyle $25m Qianlong Vase

Wild Chinese bidders struck again late last week at Skinner as a slightly damaged Qianlong vase made $24.7m against much, much lower estimate ($150,000):

Judith Dowling, director of Asian works of art at Skinner, said the consensus among scholars is that the vase was ordered by the Qianlong Emperor and that it’s a sampler of various techniques that were used during the previous 200 years. The vase last appeared at auction in 1964 when it sold for $750, according to Skinner.

“It says a lot,” Dowling said. “In 1964, China was closed. There were not so many buyers of Chinese material in the U.S. Now the Chinese are taking back their material, buying it wherever they can find it.”

A similar vase is displayed at the Palace Museum in Beijing, according to the auction house. The estimate was conservative because the object had been damaged and included cracks and repairs.

“We put a very low, conservative estimate on it,” Dowling said. “Nothing like this had ever sold.”

Skinner brought the piece to New York on Sept. 12. ahead of the Asia Week’s start, where it was seen by visiting collectors and Hong Kong and Beijing. During the sale, the bidding started at $150,000 but very soon someone from the audience yelled “Five million,” Dowling said. “And then it took off.”

Imperial Qianlong-Era Chinese Vase Sells for $25 Million  (Bloomberg)

More from Art Market Monitor

  • Christie's Sells $5.68m Chippendale TableChristie's Sells $5.68m Chippendale Table
  • Hugo Weihe on Bloomberg: Future of Indian ArtHugo Weihe on Bloomberg: Future of Indian Art
  • Christie's Fine Ceramics and Works of ArtChristie's Fine Ceramics and Works of Art
  • Cattelan’s Frank and Jamie, A HistoryCattelan’s Frank and Jamie, A History
  • Chicago HopeChicago Hope
  • Roy Lichtenstein and The Pop Art Masterpiece Market: AnalysisRoy Lichtenstein and The Pop Art Masterpiece Market: Analysis

Filed Under: General

About Marion Maneker

Want to get Art Market Monitor‘s posts sent to you in our email? Sign up below by clicking on the Subscribe button.

Top Posts

  • Keith Haring’s 1989 Retrospect Comes to Sotheby’s London Prints Sale
  • Tony Podesta's Secret Art Buying
  • David Hockney's $20m Pacific Coast Highway & Santa Monica
  • Roy Lichtenstein’s Top Ten Auction Prices
  • Four of Picasso's Women Valued at $28m Come to Christie's from Rose-Walters Collection
  • Christie's Announces $70m Picasso Self Portrait
  • Re-discovered John Constable Painting at Sotheby's in December
  • Basquiat's Last Girlfriend
  • How to Chant Like an Auctioneer
  • Norman Rockwell's Not Gay. But Is He a Great Artist?
  • About Us/ Contact
  • Podcast
  • AMMpro
  • Newsletter
  • FAQ

twitterfacebooksoundcloud
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
California Privacy Rights
Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Advertise on Art Market Monitor