NEW YORK, NY.- Doyle New York's Asian Works of Art auction on September 16, 2013 attracted strong competition from an international audience of bidders in the salesroom, on the telephones, and live on the Internet. The auction offered over 400 lots showcasing the arts of China, Japan and Southeast Asia from the Neolithic Period through the 20th century. Offerings included porcelain and pottery, jades, scholars objects, bronzes, screens, furniture and paintings.
THE ESTATE OF LUZ PAPASIAN
Highlighting the sale was property from the Estate of Luz Papasian (1915-2013), which comprised ninety lots in the sale. Chinese jade from the Estate featured an important 18th century white jade ewer carved in the form of a phoenix, height 7 1/2 inches, that achieved a staggering $2,853,000. An ink on paper painting depicting a horse by Xu Beihong (Chinese 1895-1953) fetched $605,000. The selection of Chinese huanghuali furniture from the Estate offered a 17th century trestle-leg table and an 18th century marble inlaid table that each sold for the identical amount of $455,000.
Born into a prominent Guatemalan family and the daughter of a diplomat, the former Luz Figueroa was the wife of Aram Papasian (1906-1994). Mr. Papasian was born in Istanbul, Turkey to a family of Armenian descent. He was a successful businessman in the Asian textile trade, and the couple made their home on Manhattans East Side. Some of the proceeds from the sale of the Estate of Luz Papasian will benefit a variety of religious charities.
PROPERTY FROM OTHER COLLECTIONS AND ESTATES
Chinese furniture from other collections and estates featured a large, elaborately-carved table of precious Zitan that achieved $365,000. The table was modeled after a Qianlong Period example in the collection of Beijing's National Palace Museum.
Chinese porcelain featured a pair of Chinese blue and white glazed porcelain jars with the Yongzheng six-character mark and of the Period, height 4 1/4 inches, that sold for $185,000. The vases had been purchased in 1933 in China by a Danish collector in service to the Danish government, and they were later acquired by the Commander of the Royal Danish Navy.
The selection of bronzes were highlighted by a diminutive 18th/19th century Tibetan gilt-bronze figure of Virupa seated on a lotus base, height 4 1/4 inches, that fetched $112,500.
With international competitive bidding, the sale totaled a stunning $8,106,063, far surpassing the pre-sale estimate of $1,373,750 - $2,083,050, with 76% sold by lot and 96% by value.
All prices include the Buyers Premium.