HONG KONG.- The sale of Fine Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy performed steadily, bringing in a total of HK$ 123 million/ US$ 15.8 million with an exceptional sell-through rate of 91%. The sale received heated competitions from 4 bidding channels, a number of lots were competed for multiple times exceed its estimate. Collectors from Mainland China and overseas were actively bidding on Live Auction Platform, result in a third of lots offered in the sale were sold to online bidders.
The 8 special sections and collections, including lots offered by Chung Chen Sun Private Collection, Wang Xiuling Private Collection and Important Private Collection From North America were 100% sold; Wu Qi Lou Collection achieved great results with 90% sell-through rate.
Yu Fei'an's Bird and Flower was the first lot sold for more than one million Hong Kong dollars after intense bidding war. It was sold for HK$ 1.29 million/ US$ 165,384 after 35 bids, 10 times its estimate. Pu Ru's Scholar Viewing Plum Blossoms and Qi Gong's Couplet in Running Script were both sold 10 times over their estimates. The highlight of the sale, Qi Baishi's Flowers in Four Screens, received much attention with heated competition between bidders in the room and on the phone, achieving a final price of HK$ 9.12 million / US$ 1.17 million. Another highlight worth mentioning is Fu Baoshi's Climbing the Lofty Mountain, which also received heated competition from bidders in Beijing and Hong Kong, which sold for HK$ 5.66 million / US$ 726,154. Cover lot Xie Zhiliu’s Wang Huizhi Admiring Bamboo and back cover lot Xu Beihong's Four Characters Couplet in Running Script performed within expectations, both sold for HK$ 1.42 million/ US$ 181,538.
Apart from the top highlights, other lots with no reserve performed well. Calligraphys by Xu Bangda, Xu Bojiao attracted absentee bids and bidders in the room, on the phone and online, sold for HK$ 295,000 after 54 bids.
Ms. Hu Yanyan, President of
China Guardian (HK) Auctions Co., Ltd., says, “China Guardian (Hong Kong) team comprising just over 30 staff members, have single-handedly managed the Autumn Auctions without the support of the Beijing team, auctioneers and collectors visiting previews and auctions under these challenging times……The Autumn Auctions achieved a total of HK$ 361 million/ US$ 46.28 million, high sell-through rates average 75%. I am pleased and encouraged by the results. Passionate collectors, attractively priced quality artworks, professional and accommodating specialists, brand new live streaming technology connecting Beijing and Hong Kong customers to participating in bidding simultaneously, Live Auction Platform, and our highly praised auctioneers have altogether made this Autumn Auctions very memorable. We would like to sincerely thank our collectors from all around the world; your trust and support have always driven us to do better in the future.”
Asian 20th Century and Contemporary Art
The sale of Asian 20th Century and Contemporary Art achieved a total of HK$ 123 million/ US$ 1.58 million, with a remarkable 80% sold by lots, setting three new world auction records. Bringing a strong start was Super Mousy by No2good, with bidders furiously completed for 32 bids to a final total of HK$ 295,000 / US$ 37,821, 5 times its presale estimate, setting a world auction record for the artist. Zao Wou-ki’s 12.05.60 has also set the 4th highest per unit price achieved of his 1960’s work.
The special themed section FACES in the Era achieved outstanding results; Ju Ming's sculpture Taichi Series: Cloud Hands, Stomp (Set of two pieces), after competition between Beijing and Hong Kong bidders, it was sold to client of Ms. Hu Yanyan, President of China Guardian (HK) for HK$ 11.19 million/ US$ 1.43 million, making it one of the highest sold lots in Autumn Auctions 2020. Zeng Fanzhi's Untitled achieved robust result, which sold for HK$ 9.24 million/ US$ 1.18 million. Four bidders in the room and on the phone pursued Yayoi Kusama's On the Ocean; the work sold 2 times above its estimate for HK$ 6.48 million/ US$ 830,128. Yashitomo Nara's Abandoned Puppy, Waiting (Diptych) sold for HK$ 4.84 million/ US$ 621,025, 2 times its estimate. Two other important lots of Sanyu’s paper work Reclining Woman in Green Robe and Seated Women in Green Robe, sold for HK$ 4.25 million/ US$ 544,615 (4 times its presale estimate) and HK$ 2.48 million/ US$ 317,692 (2.7 times its presale estimate) respectively, making them the 2nd and 5th highest price of the artist's watercolor paintings. Additionally, Chao Chung-Hsiang's Mother's Birthday received 26 bids, sold for HK$ 1 million/ US$ 128,590, 3 times its estimate. In the Shining Stars section, works offered by 9 artists were 100% sold. Zhao Zhao's Constellations in particular sold for HK$ 967,600/ US$ 124,051, setting a world auction record for the artist; another world auction record was taken by Liang Jen-Hung, his work Transevolution 23AT1033-34 was sold for HK$ 613,000/ US$ 78,590.
Works of Pang Jiun and Liao Chi-chun were sold with good results, two of Pang Jiun's most representative works The Champion's Palace in Spring and On a Little Boat, I Live My Life sold for HK$ 3.07 million/ US$ 393,333 and HK$ 4.01 million/ US$ 514,358 respectively.
Ceramics and Works of Art
Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art: Part I was well received during the first day at auction, with all eyes focused on the important lot A Rare and Large Blue and White 'Dragon' Charger, Yongzheng period. The lot received 39 bids, fetching HK$ 7.86 million/ US$ 1.01 million, 3 times its estimate. Followed by the sale of cover lot, A pair of Monumental Gilt-Decorated Wucai 'Longevity' Jardinieres, Kangxi period with bidders from two destinations competed fiercely for 29 times, achieving HK$ 6.13 million/ US$ 785,897, 3 times its estimate.
Masterpieces of Ancient Chinese Jades: The Ju-yi Scholar's Studio Collection sale totaled nearly HK$ 50 million/ US$ 6.38 million far exceeded its estimate (HK$18.7 million/ US$ 2.4 million) with a high sell-through rate of 92%. The sale offered a total of 179 lots of ancient Chinese jades from an important Taiwanese collector, the owner of The Ju-yi Scholar's Studio. The sale presented treasures spanning from the Neolithic period to the Ming and the Qing dynasties that she collected for 4 decades; many of which were exhibited at National Museum of History, Taipei and published in Masterpieces of Ancient Chinese Jades: The Ju-yi Scholar's Studio Collection. Some important lots from the Ming and the Qing dynasties were exhibited in the U.S., which also published in Jade: Ch'ing Dynasty Treasures. This collection had never appeared at auction, thus, it brought the outstanding results.
Leading the sale was A white Jade Bird-shaped Pendant, bidding from conservative estimate of HK$ 100,000 / US$ 12,821 to a final price of HK$ 1.53 million/ US$ 196,667, 12 times of its estimate. The most eye-catching lot was A Pale Celadon Jade Parrot, which received 26 bids in the room and on the phone from Beijing and Hong Kong, finally sold for HK$ 4.37 million / US$ 559,744, 12 times its estimate (HK$ 300,000). Another worth mentioning lot is A Celadon Jade Pig; was sold after 33 bids for HK$ 2.71 million / US$ 347,949, 7.7 times its e estimate.
The Autumn Auctions 2020 ended lavishly with Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art: Part II with The Property of Jiu Ru Yuan received 90% sell-through rate. An Archaic Yellow Jade 'Dragon' Tubular Bead received intense competition, it sold after 48 bids for HK$ 2.24 million / US$ 287,436, 74 times of its estimate, the first lot reached over a million. Another top lot An Archaic Jade Cong sold to an important collector for HK$ 2.6 million / US$ 332,821.
An Inscribed Archaic Bronze Ritual Vessel, Fangding received heated competition, which sold for HK$ 11.19 million / US$ 1.43 million, together with Taichi Series: Cloud Hands, Stomp were both the most expensive lots sold in the auction.
Classical Chinese Furniture
The sale of Classic Furniture of The Ming and The Qing Dynasties brought a strong sell-through rate of 86%. The Huanghuali furniture achieved extraordinary results, with the top lot Huanghuali Square Table with Drawers, Early Qing Period, was sold for HK$ 1.42 million/ US$ 181,538. The second top lot of the sale, Huanghuali Recessed-Leg Painting Table, Early Qing Period, sold for HK$1.3 million/ US$166,410. Huanghuali Waisted Kang-table with Cabriole-Leg, Early Qing Period, received 29 bids with bidders from Beijing and Hong Kong battled on the phone, in the room and it was eventually sold to a Hong Kong collector for 5 times its estimate.
