HONG KONG.- Holly’s International 2019 Autumn Auctions concluded successfully on 24th November. The six curated sales offered by four departments were highly successful, with total proceeds reaching almost HK$526 million. Among the lots on offer, Album of Jinling’s Ten Places of Interest by Dong Gao (1740 - 1808) sold for a record high of HK$83,780,000 and emerging as the top lot of the season.

Dr. Li Yifei, founder of Holly’s International Auction Co., Ltd., commented, “The strong results achieved in our Autumn sales is a proof of Hong Kong remaining as a vital art hub in the global art market. Today, the sales by all four departments were met with very enthusiastic bidding from collectors. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of our friends who came to support us despite the social unrest. This support will become a driving force to propel us forward in hunting the top-notch fine art and collectibles for our collectors."

Auction Results of Six Sales From Four Departments:

I. “Origin of Ink – Chinese Paintings And Calligraphy” Sale Totalled HK$300 Million
The highly-anticipated “Origin of Ink – Chinese Paintings And Calligraphy” sale, presented by the Department of Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy, offered 59 significant Chinese paintings and calligraphy works from ancient to modern times. This sale achieved a total of HK$300 million.

Among the lots, Album of Jinling’s Ten Places of Interest, the masterpiece by Dong Gao (1740-1818), a famous courtier of the reigns of Emperors Qianlong and Jiaqing, was unveiled for the first time on the art market. This painting, recorded in the catalogue of calligraphy and paintings “Shi Qu Bao Ji Xu Bian (《石渠寶笈續編》)”, sold for a record-breaking HK$83,780,000. Following closely was Mount Jinggang by Li Keran (1907-1989), a prominent modern landscape painter, which sold for a remarkable HK$45,430,000.

II. The Resonance of Minds – Modern and Contemporary Art” Sale: Versailles by Wu Guanzhong Delivered Strong Momentum to Kick-Start Autumn Auctions
Kicking off the Autumn Auctions, this sale presented by the Department of Modern and Contemporary Art attracted attentions from a wide range of collectors and was concluded with impressive results. After multiple rounds of in-person and telephone bids, Versailles by Chinese master painter Wu Guanzhong was sold to a telephone bidder for a remarkable HK$24,780,000, the highest result of the sale. Other top works include Robert Rauschenberg’s Kennel Club (Scenarios) which sold for HK$17,700,000, exceeding the high estimate by nearly HK$6 million; Amnesia and Memories: Male by Zhang Xiaogang, which achieved HK$10,030,000; Two Young Shepherds by Chen Danqing which totalled HK$10,384,000 after fierce bidding; and Untitled by Liu Ye also fetched an impressive HK$20,060,000. Numerous lots in this sale, containing 69 exquisite works of art, were sold for high prices, realised a total of HK$104,700,000.

III. Two Sales from Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Fetched Approximately HK$72 million
The Department of Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art put on two special sales: “Everlasting Aroma – Imperial Porcelain and Important Chinese Works of Art”, and “The Pursuit of Fantasy – Private Collection of Important Porcelain”, which together offered over 100 exquisite antiques in a wide variety of categories, including porcelain ware, jade ware, bronze ware and Buddhist statues. Among the lots, A Fine Imperial Ming-Style Blue And White 'Sanduo', Meiping from the Qianlong Period of the Qing Dynasty achieved an impressive HK$10,266,000.

IV. Two Sales from the Jewellery and Prestige Collections Totalled Nearly HK$58,400,000, with Stylish Urban Art Introduced for the First Time
Around 150 pieces of premium jewellery, elegant timepieces and stylish urban art were presented by the Department of Jewellery and Prestige Collections in two sales: “Ode to Utmost Beauty – Fine Jewels, Jadeite And Urban Art”, and “Engraved Passion – Important Timepieces And Decorative Art”. The total proceeds of these two sales reached HK$58,400,000, the top lot was Jadeite And Diamond Pendant which fetched a remarkable HK$10,148,000.