NEW YORK, NY.- Christies Asian Art Week achieved a total of $35,378,754 with almost 80% sold by lot and 117% hammer above low estimate. There was global participation with bidders from almost 40 nations across five continents. The top lot of the week came in the Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art sale. A Very Rare Pair of Huanghuali Drum Stools, dating from the 17th century, realized $1,500,000, more than 12 times its low estimate of $120,000. Other notable results from the Chinese sale included the top lot in a group of 60 Chinese Jades From the Collection of T. Eugene Worrell, A Superb Yellow Jade Figure Of A Recumbent Mythical Beast, dating from the Ming Dynasty, which brought $441,000, more than four times its low estimate of $100,000. The South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art sale saw Untitled (bird, tree and mountain series) by Jagdish Swaminathan fetch $819,000, 455% by low estimate. The top lot of the John C. and Susan L. Huntington Collection sale was a rare and fine painting of a Shat Chakravarti Mandala from 15th-16th Century Tibet that fetched $441,000. The sale of the property of a noted connoisseur, Centering the Figure: South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art from the Collection of Romi Lamba, included Cocoon, a painting by the Mumbai artist, Anju Dodiya, which realized $327,600, more than 650% by low estimate. The sale of Japanese and Korean Art included a Nagasone Katana from the property from the Kaisendo Museum Collection, which realized $239,400, nearly five times its low estimate.
Tina Zonars, Co-Chairman of Asian Art, Christies, said: This fall Asia Week at Christies saw strong sales and great results across all of our categories. It was gratifying and inspiring to have buyers return in numbers to live bidding in the saleroom, and once again we were able to create and host a series of inviting and interesting events to bring people to Rockefeller Center. A strong market, a high level of quality in every sale, and the hard work and dedication of our team ensured another successful set of sales.
ASIAN ART WEEK | LIVE AUCTION OVERVIEW:
Japanese and Korean Art
20 September 2022
TOTAL: $2,863,728
Japanese and Korean Art achieved a total of $2,863,728 with 81% hammer above low estimate. The sale was led by a Nagasone Katana from the property from the Kaisendo Museum Collection, which realized $239,400, nearly five times its low estimate. Additional highlights from the sale included; Tennoji Riko, a woodblock print by Toshusai Sharaku, which fetched $189,000, more than 280% of low estimate; a woodblock-printed illustrated book and the complete set of 12 illustrations by Kitagawa Utamaro, titled, Utamakura (Poem of the pillow), which achieved $126,000, 126% of its low estimate.
The John C. and Susan L. Huntington Collection
21 September 2022
TOTAL: $1,830,780
The John C. and Susan L. Huntington Collection achieved a total of $1,830,780 with 110% hammer above low estimate. The top lot of the sale was a rare and fine painting of a Shat Chakravarti Mandala from 15th-16th Century Tibet that fetched $441,000. The sale also achieved notable results for a painting from the 'Bharany' Ramayana: Rama, Sita and Lakshmana at Panchavati, which realized $315,000 with a low estimate of $100,000; a gilt bronze figure of Vajrakilaya and Dipti Chakra from Tibet, which achieved $189,000; and a rare painting of Tara from a Palpung Tara set, which fetched $144,900 against a low estimate of $40,000.
Centering the Figure: South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art from the Collection of Romi Lamba
21 September 2022
TOTAL: $2,342,466
Centering the Figure: South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art from the Collection of Romi Lamba achieved a total of $2,342,466 with 91% sold by low estimate. The top lot of the sale was Cocoon, a painting by the Mumbai artist, Anju Dodiya, which realized $327,600, more than 650% by low estimate. Other leading lots of the sale included: Untitled (Krishna with Flute) by Manjit Bawa, which fetched $315,000, 315% by low estimate; Arpita Singhs, My Daughter, which also fetched $315,000; and Manjit Bawas Untitled (Narasimha), which realized $207,900.
South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art
21 September 2022
TOTAL: $7,684,110
South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art achieved a total of $7,684,110 with 86% sold by lot and 119% hammer above low estimate. The top lot of the sale, Untitled (bird, tree and mountain series) by Jagdish Swaminathan, fetched $819,000, 455% by low estimate. Other notable results include, Jamini Roys, Untitled (Dralha), which realized $579,600 nearly ten times its low estimate of $60,000; two properties from the collection of Alfred c. Stepan; Untitled (Girl), by Ram Kumar, which realized $567,000, more than twice its low estimate; and The Apocalypse, by Francis Newton Souza, which also realized $567,000, more than three times its low estimate.
Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art
22 23 September 2022
TOTAL: $20,657,670
Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art totaled $20,657,670, with 154% hammer above low estimate, and 86% sold by lot. Three lots brought more than one million dollars each, vastly exceeding their low estimates. The top lot of the sale, a very rare pair of Huanghuali Drum Stools, realized $1,500,00, which was 1250% by low estimate. A very rare rectangular Huanghuali Incense Table, brought $1,159,200, which was almost 1000% low estimate. A magnificent and very rare Pair of Large Cloisonné Enamel Panels made $1,159,200, more than seven times its low estimate. The sale included a group of 60 Chinese Jades From the Collection of T. Eugene Worrell, which was almost completely sold, fetching strong prices include for A Superb Yellow Jade Figure Of A Recumbent Mythical Beast, dating from the Ming Dynasty, which brought $441,000, more than four times its low estimate of $100,000. The sale saw strong prices for ceramics including the cover lot, a rare and important Longquan celadon octagonal meiping with biscuit panels from the Yuan dynasty, which made $882,000, which is 147% by low estimate