ZURICH.- Koller Auctions has again enjoyed a successful Asian Art auction. Of the works of art from China, Tibet and Nepal, this, the largest Swiss Auction house, sold 75% of approximately 250 objects. Good results were spread evenly amongst all periods and price segments. The highest final price went to a 14th/15th century four-armed goddess from Tibet, but the Thangkas and selected ceramics also reached high prices.

The Asian Art auction at Koller yet again attracted the attention of numerous Chinese bidders. The first bidders were already in the room by 8 o’clock, the auction starting punctually at 10 o’clock with Lot 101 and a series of around 40 Tibetan figures. Lot 103 brought a surprise with the first long bidding war in which a 9 cm copper sculpture of a female Nepalese deity from the 14th century, estimated at CHF 3 000, saw a final price of CHF 45 600. Lot 108 also went for many times its estimate, this being a Prajnaparamita of the Nepalese school from the 16th century. Here the bids rose from CHF 25 000 to CHF 114 000. Lot 111, a Vajradhara figure made of gilt copper, doubled its value from an estimate of CHF 30 000 to a final price of CHF 66 000. Then came Lot 112 which was one of the top lots of the auction: a gilt copper figure of a four-armed goddess. The sculpture presumably represents Tara or Prajnaparamita. The figure is decorated with numerous brightly coloured stones and was made in the Tibet in the 14th/15th century, where it was presumably an integral part of the now destroyed Densatil monastery. Starting with a price of CHF 180 000, the bidding war was decided by a private collector at a price of CHF 629 500. Lots 117 and 130 also doubled their estimates. A Tibetan copper figure of Jnana Dakini from the 16th/17th century made CHF 180 000 and the Sino-Tibetan Ushnishavijaya made of gilt bronze reached CHF 294 000. The final highlight amongst the figures was a gilt Sino-Tibetan Damcan, depicted riding on a goat. This exceptional piece made a final price of CHF 78 000 which fell within the auction estimate (lot 137).

As well as the figures, the Tibetan Thangkas were also very successful. Of the 19 Thangkas offered at auction, all except one found new owners. The highest price reached was for Lot 163 which had a motif of the three Arhats crossing the ocean dating from the 18th century. Estimated at CHF 9 000 this Thangka made a price of CHF 66 000. Lots 169 (Huashang motif, 19th century), 167 (Arhat motif, 19th century) and 152 (Huashang motif, 17th century), which all had the same estimate, made final prices of CHF 54 000, CHF 42 000 and CHF 33 600 respectively. An unexpected final price of CHF 33 600 was achieved for a modern porcelain fish bowl measuring 40 cm in height, which had been estimated at CHF 5 000 / 8 000 (lot 320), while a pair of Gu vases from the late Shang dynasty saw a final price of CHF 102 000 (lot 171).

South East Asia, India and Persia
The highest price for Indian art was CHF 60 000 for a 17th century cabinet which started the bidding at CHF 30 000. This cabinet from Sindh or Gujarat, is made in wood with a lavish ivory decoration featuring cheerful figural scenes with dancers, musicians and wrestlers gathered around two wine drinkers (lot 423). A Japanese Shinto long sword in very good condition from the Ishidô school sold for CHF 15 000 which was at the lower estimate (lot 372). Bidding for the complete series of mangas by Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) rose to a price of CHF 14 400. The 15 volumes with variously coloured bindings date from the 1830s and were estimated by Koller at approximately CHF 9 000 (lot 390).