NEW YORK.- Christie’s, the world’s leading art business, held the series of Asian Art Sales at Rockefeller Center with Art for the Way of Tea, a unique sale completed devoted to Tea-ceremony related items. The collection, which was brought together over several decades by a private Asian collector, spans a time zone of four hundred years (16th through 19th centuries), consists of 40 lots and is expected to realize in excess of three million dollars.

A Massive White Porcelain Jar, Choson Period (18th Century), sold for $1,272,000. Pine Trees in Moonlight attributed to Hasegawa Tohaku sold for $880,000. A rectangular stoneware bowl with bridge handle, Mino ware, Momoyama period, sold for $300,000. Kim Yusong (1725-?), painter; Sung Dai Joog, Calligrapher, Landscapes and calligraphy sold for $240,000.

“The first day of the Spring 2007 edition of Asia Week at Christie's was witnessed by a balanced mix of Western and Eastern bidders who actively participated in person, on the phones and online. Japanese and Korean Art and Art for the Way of Tea realized $6,610,180 with as a top lot the magnificent and massive Choson period full moon jar which realized $1,272,000, setting a world auction record for white porcelain from the Choson period. The Korean section of the sale performed extremely well with the rare 18th century album with calligraphy and landscapes achieving $240,000 while a painting by Lee Daiwon was acquired for $102,000. The Japanese section was led with the superb Pine Trees in Moonlight, an extraordinary pair of screens which achieved $880,000. Art for the Way of Tea, a single owner collection, was led by the spectacular rectangular bowl from the Momoyama period.”

Katsura Yamaguchi, Head of Japanese and Korean Art and Heakyum Kim, Specialist Korean Art.