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Christie’s Astounding Fujita Sale Had Buyers Taking Home Multiple Lots

March 16, 2017 by Marion Maneker

Chang Dynasty Bronze Ritual Wine Vessel $37m

Kelly Crow was at the Fujita Museum sale of Chinese works of art that did so well last night. Many have wondered why the sale was so explosive. But the answer seems to lie in two places. The museum, unlike many consignors, was not eager to see estimates raised; and, the record of similar objects sold—which were nowhere near the level of quality of the Fujita works—could not support higher estimates.

In the field of Chinese Works of Art, because of the problems with authenticity and documentation, provenance adds tremendous value if the works come from a well-known, well-researched and well-respected collection. The Fujita Museum is one, judging from these results. Which explains that there were buyers lining up to get more than one of the 31 lots offered, as Crow narrates:Continue Reading

Sotheby’s Stands Behind Gong Fu Tie

January 15, 2014 by Marion Maneker

Gong Fu Tei

Sotheby’s has released its report in Chinese re-affirming its attribution of the now-disputed scroll purchased by Liu Yiqian for $8.2m last September in New York:

“We have published a detailed and comprehensive analysis rebutting each of the issues raised about the authenticity of the work,” the auction house said in a statement. “This report demonstrates that the brushwork of The Gong Fu Tie Calligraphy is inconsistent with that of a late copy or tracing as was alleged and is of such high quality that it could only have been created by a masterly hand using a soft brush.

Furthermore, we have established that both the seals and colophon are genuine, serving as further proof that the piece was created by Su Shi.”

Sotheby’s Report Defends Chinese Scroll It Sold as Authentic (NYTimes)

China’s New Collectors: Deep Pockets and Determined

October 8, 2013 by Marion Maneker

Nicholas Chow & William Chak
Nicholas Chow & William Chak

Bloomberg accounts for Sotheby’s very strong 4.2bn HKD ($540m) Hong Kong sales cycle:

“We haven’t seen the room so full or so positive or so buoyant for a while,” said London-based dealer Daniel Eskenazi.

Eskenazi, who was outbid on a Chenghua-era “Palace” Bowl that sold for $18.2 million, said more mainland buyers show up each season, and now that China’s new political leadership is established, they feel more comfortable buying.

Property developer Zheng Huaxing bought the Buddha, a Yongle Gilt-Bronze seated figure, setting a record for a Chinese sculpture at auction. After the winning bid, Zheng stood up, pressed his hands together in prayer and bowed three times to the saleroom. The Palace bowl also went to a property developer whose dealer, Hong Kong-based William Chak, bid on his behalf.

“He wanted this piece desperately,” said Chak. “He was so anxious he didn’t sleep at all last night.”

Chak said his client, who is building a private museum in Hebei province outside Beijing, typifies the new breed of collectors: conspicuous, deep pocketed and determined.

“The new wealth in China is different,” Chak said. “They don’t just want to collect and enjoy, they want to be No. 1.”

Chinese Buying Frenzy Helps Sotheby’s to $540 Mln Record (Bloomberg)

Sotheby’s Chinese Ritual Bronzes = $16.7m

September 17, 2013 by Marion Maneker

Bronze Food Vessel, Zu Bao Yi Gui (42-3m) $6.6m

Sotheby’s started Asia Week with a big brass bang:

Magnificent Ritual Bronzes – Property from the Collection of Julius Eberhardt totaling $16,786,000 – several times the $3.5/5.3 million estimate and 100% sold.  Multiple bidders competed for every lot in the packed salesroom, all ten of which exceeded the high estimate. The auction presented the most important group of Chinese archaic bronzes to have appeared at auction since 2007, which were distinguished by their famed provenance. The top lot of the morning was A Bronze Food Vessel, Zuo Bao Yi Gui, Early Western Zhou Dynasty, 11th-10th Century BC, which sold for $6,661,000 more than double the high estimate of $3 million and representing one of the highest prices ever paid for a Chinese Bronze at auction.

Chinese Ceramics Frenzy Returns to Sotheby’s with $2.25m Ding Bowl Sale

March 19, 2013 by Marion Maneker

Sotheby's 8974 Lot 94 rare and important ding bowl

Sotheby’s Chinese Ceramics sale in New York had some serious action which the press department is very eager to tell you about:

This morning, in a packed salesroom at Sotheby’s a Chinese bowl purchased from a New York state tag sale for no more than $3 sold for $2.23 million. The Rare And Important ‘Ding’ Bowl Northern Song Dynasty measuring just 5 inches in diameter was sought by four bidders in the room and on telephones in the opening session of Sotheby’s Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art auction in New York. After a prolonged battle, the piece sold to the legendary London dealer Giuseppe Eskenazi for $2,225,000, many multiples of the $200/300,000 estimate.

The ‘Ding’ bowl was bought for a few dollars from a tag sale near the consignor’s home in the summer of 2007.  At the time, the purchaser had no idea that they had happened upon a thousand year-old treasure.  The bowl was displayed in the living room of the family’s home for several years, until they became curious about the value and contacted experts in the field of Chinese Art.

The bowl is a remarkable and exceptionally beautiful example of Song pottery, celebrated for its thin potting, fine near-white body, and ivory-colored glaze. The only known bowl of the same form, size and almost identical decoration has been in the collection of the British Museum in London for over 60 years having been bequeathed to the museum by the prominent British collector Henry J. Oppenheim in 1947. Song Ceramics are increasingly sought after by Chinese Art connoisseurs and this was just one of a number of strong prices achieved for examples of these works in the sale.

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