PHILADELPHIA, PA.- Freeman’s Asian Arts auction brought together nearly 600 lots representing Chinese, Japanese, and Korean works of art, and offered a wide range of collectors the opportunity to participate in the first of the department’s two bi-annual sales. Aligned to coincide with Asia Week, the auction lasted several hours, and totaled $1,002,051 in sales. The sale garnered international interest and brought a host of first-time buyers to Freeman’s: 28% of all the day’s buyers were new, with an increase of 15% overall in the number of registered bidders.

The top-grossing lot of the sale was a pair of Chinese huanghuali and hardwood marble-inset continuous-back armchairs formerly held a private Chicago collection (Lot 515) nearly tripled its high estimate of $8,000-12,000 when they sold for $35,000. A Chinese white carved jade water coupe (Lot 465) sold for $21,250, against a presale estimate of $8,000-12,000. Two Korean mother of pearl, tortoiseshell and wire-inlaid boxes (Lots 156 and 157) from a private Florida collection, each achieved prices far above their original estimates of $3,000-5,000, when they sold for $20,000 and $13,000, respectively. Lot 190, a Pala style bronze figure of Buddha Shakyamuni, 12th-14th century, seated in vajrasana, bhumisparsha mudra, on double lotus base, by descent from the estate of the son of Thomas Barlow Walker, founder of the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. The figure sold for $20,000, 10 times its presale estimate of $2,000-3,000.

Bidding became heated a little more than halfway into the sale, when Lot 364, a pair of Chinese famille rose enameled porcelain Buddhist emblem altar stands, Qianlong mark and of the period, finely and colorfully enameled and gilt, in the form of lotus blossoms atop an openwork scrolled foliate standard, domed base, sold for $17,5000, far exceeding a presale estimate of $1,500-2,000. Just a few lots later, a pair of Chinese famille rose-decorated candlesticks, Daoguang marks and possibly of the period (Lot 369) soared past their initial estimate of $2,000-3,000, finally selling for $17,500.

At several points throughout the sale, there were competing bids in the audience, on the phones, online, and with the auctioneer. “We’re happy with the day’s results,” said Ben Farina, Head of Asian Arts. “It’s always exciting to see which lots resonate with bidders on the day of the sale. And by scheduling the sale to coincide with Asia Week, we were able to bring in a broader base of buyers.”

The next Asian Arts auction is tentatively scheduled to be held in September.

Top Lots from Freeman’s March 16th Asian Arts auction:

• Lot 515: A pair of Chinese huanghuali and hardwood marble-inset continuous-back armchairs, 17th/18th century style. Sold for $35,000.

• Lot 465: A Chinese white carved jade water coupe, 18th-19th century. Sold for $21,250.

• Lot 156: A Korean mother of pearl, tortoiseshell and wire-inlaid rectangular box and cover, joseon dynasty, 17th/18th century. Sold for $20,000.

• Lot 190: A Pala style bronze figure of Buddha Shakyamuni, circa 12th-14th century. Sold for $20,000.

• Lot 230: A Chinese patinated bronze arrow vase, Touhu, ming dynasty, 16th/17th century. Sold for $20,000.

• Lot 195: A Central Indian carved pink sandstone figure of a Goddess, 11th-12th century. Sold for $18,750.