BEIJING.-Forever International Auction Company Limited (Forever) held its 2007 Autumn auction in Beijing recenlty and realized over US$9,816,576 (RMB73,624,320) in total sales, the second highest total since Forever's inaugural auctions in 2005 when it first licensed the Christie's brand.

The star lot, a long hand scroll entitled 'Gathering in Lanting' by Fu Baoshi (1904-1965), sold for a remarkable US$2,688,000 (RMB 20,160,000), after enthusiastic bidding. Another work by Fu Baoshi - 'Du Fu's Poetic Sentiment' - was also the top lot at Forever's Autumn sales last year, and was sold for US$1,400,000 (RMB11,200,000).

Paul Dong, General Manager of Forever International Auction Company: “Today’s sales of Chinese 19th and 20th Century Paintings and Calligraphy realized nearly US$10 million, the second highest total since Forever’s inaugural auctions in 2005, when we first licensed the Christie’s brand. Most of the 631 lots were sourced from private collectors in Japan. Nine of the top ten lots were sold in the afternoon 20th Century sale. The top lot of the day was a long hand scroll by Fu Baoshi, whose Du Fu’s Poetic Sentiment was the top lot of Forever’s autumn sale last year.”