Results | Christie's Asian Art Week Online Sales total $2.3 million, combined live + online achieves $85.1 million
New York – Christie’s Asian Art Week New York achieved a total of $82,830,875 with 90% by value, 84% sold by lot, and 175% hammer above low estimate across the eight live auctions. There was global participation with bidders from 41 countries across five continents. Additionally, unique visitors from over 110 countries visited the sale pages leading into the week. During the week 13 records were achieved and 13 lots exceeded $1m across all geographies of Asian art. Online sales continue through October 1.
The top lot of the week was a rare and magnificent gray schist triad of Buddha Shakyamuni that sold for $6,630,000 and set the world auction record for a Gandharan work of art. Other notable results included a woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai, “The Great Wave,” which achieved $1,110,000 and set the record for the print by the artist; a rare and magnificent bronze figure of Shiva Tripuravijaya, South India, circa 1050, that sold for $4,350,000 and established the record for a South Indian sculpture; an important painting by Tyeb Mehta, Untitled from 1974 that sold for $1,110,000; and a Northern Qi grey limestone figure of Buddha that realized $2,550,000. Individual results are included in the following pages. Press images can be downloaded here.
Deepanjana Klein, International Head of Classical and Contemporary Indian and South Asian Art, remarks: “This season was the strongest in over a decade for Indian and Southeast Asian art. We are incredibly proud that the week’s top three prices were for classical Indian and Gandharan works of art with records set for a South Indian sculpture with the bronze figure of Shiva from the Alsdorf collection selling for $4.3m and a record for a Gandharan work of art set by the magnificent schist relief that sold for $6.6m. Additionally, the modern and contemporary sales collectively set eight new artist records. These exceptional results and participation demonstrate the resilience of the market and growing breadth and depth of the collector base in the field. The success of this week of sales is owed to the strength of our global team of specialists.”
Tina Zonars, Co-Chairman of Asian Art, Christie’s, comments: “The strong sell through rates and prices realized not only show the robustness of the market, but also our expertise in curating sales that meet current market demands across all collecting categories of Asian art. Exceptional prices were achieved throughout the week for Chinese paintings, stone sculpture, bronzes, Qing imperial porcelains, Japanese and Korean works of art, and classical Chinese furniture, demonstrating the expansion of the market and the depth of our buying audience. The overall success of the week is a testament to Christie’s teamwork and innovation especially during this unprecedented time. Thank you to our teams in New York, Asia and Europe who have worked tirelessly to achieve these impressive results.”
CHRISTIE’S USES DUAL-SALEROOM TECHNOLOGY FOR THE FIRST TIME DURING ASIAN ART WEEK
Simultaneously hosted in New York and Hong Kong
Additionally, for the first time during New York Asian Art Week, Christie’s hosted auctions in two salerooms with dedicated auctioneers in Hong Kong and New York. The strong interest for the Alsdorf collection and Important Chinese Works of Art sale in Asia inspired the new approach. The live stream was broadcast via ChristiesLIVE and Zaiyi platforms.
22 September 2020 SALE TOTAL: $8,475,000 82% SOLD BY LOT | 84% SOLD BY VALUE 144% HAMMER AGAINST LOW ESTIMATE AUCTION RECORD SET FOR HOKUSAI’S GREAT WAVE Christie’s sale of Japanese Art and Korean Art totaled $8,475,000 with 82% sold by lot and 84% sold by value. The top lot of the sale was a woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), “The Great Wave,” which achieved $1,110,000 against a low estimate of $150,000 and set the record for the print by the artist. Other notable results included an important pair of six-panel screens by Kano Tsunenobu (1636-1713), Chrysanthemums Blooming in a Garden that sold for $175,000; along with prints by Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858), Kitagawa Utamaro (1753-1806), and Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), including “Red Fuji” that sold for $337,500. Additionally, modern and contemporary works performed with strong results including Morita Shiryu (1912-1998), Choo (Conspicuousness), that realized $137,500; and Kato Gizan (B. 1968), Jigen (Manifestation) that sold for $312,500. Featured Korean works included a blue and white porcelain jar with three worthies playing weiqi, Joseon dynasty that sold for $750,000; and an impressive eight-panel screen from the circle of Kim Hongdo (1745-1806), titled Hunting Scene that achieved $930,000 against a low estimate of $100,000. Browse sale results here. |
A Lasting Engagement: The Jane and Kito de Boer Collection 23 September 2020 SALE TOTAL: $3,563,625 SIX RECORDS ACHIEVED
A Lasting Engagement: The Jane and Kito de Boer Collection totaled $3,563,625 with 82% sold by lot and 81% sold by value. Six records were set within the sale including artist records for Chittaprosad Bhattacharya, Prosanto Roy, Prokash Karmakar, and Rama Mukherji along with a record for an Early Bengal oil painting and a record for a figurative work by Biren De. Top lots lot of the sale included important works by Rameshwar Broota led by Silent Structures of 1991, which sold for $525,000; and the seminal 1982 painting, The Last Chapter, which achieved $287,500. Other notable results included paintings by Ganesh Pyne including The Animal which achieved $400,000 establishing the second highest price for a work by the artist. Works by the Progressive Artists Group performed with strong results including Francis Newton Souza, Untitled (Seated Woman), which sold for $237,500; along with early works by Sayed Haider Raza and Maqbool Fida Husain. The live auction is accompanied by an online sale, offering additional works from the collection between 4-25 September. Browse sale results here. |
South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art 23 September 2020 SALE TOTAL: $4,904,750 TWO RECORDS ACHIEVED
The sale of South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art totaled $4,904,750. The top lot of the sale was an important painting by Tyeb Mehta, Untitled from 1974 that sold for $1,110,000. Other notable results included Jehangir Sabavala’s widely published pastoral painting, The Peasants which appeared for the first time at auction and achieved $966,000 establishing the world auction record for the artist. Other highlights included exceptional examples works by of modern masters such as The Pull, a rare early work by Maqbool Fida Husain that sold for $822,000; and Candameric, a sublime landscape from 1969 by Sayed Haider Raza that achieved $175,000. Additionally, strong prices were realized for contemporary works by the region’s most renowned practitioners like Nalini Malani and Imran Qureshi. Additionally, B. Vithal’s Untitled (Horses) sold for $27,500 setting a new auction record for the artist. The sale also included the complete 1991 portfolio, House with Four Walls, by Zarina, that sold for $62,500. Browse sale results here.
|
Devotion in Stone: Gandharan Masterpieces from a Private Japanese Collection 23 September 2020 SALE TOTAL: $13,878,750 RECORD FOR A GANDHARAN WORK OF ART
One of the most important collections of Gandharan art in private hands, Devotion in Stone: Gandharan Masterpieces from a Private Japanese Collection achieved a total of $13,878,750, more than quadrupling its pre-sale low estimate. The top lot of the sale was a rare and magnificent gray schist triad of Buddha Shakyamuni with bodhisattvas that sold for $6,630,000 against a low estimate of $600,000 and achieved a world auction record for a Gandharan work of art. One of a very few dated Gandharan works of art known and published in more than thirty publications, the triad is perhaps the most important Gandharan sculpture to come to market. The sale also featured a superbly-carved large and important gray schist figure of a bodhisattva that more than doubled its low estimate realizing $3,630,000; a monumental gray schist bust of a bodhisattva that achieved $1,950,000; and a very finely-carved gray schist figure of Buddha Shakyamuni that more than doubled its low estimate selling for $810,000. Browse sale results here. |
Sacred and Imperial: The James and Marilynn Alsdorf Collection: Part I 24 September 2020 TOTAL: $15,062,250 100% SOLD BY LOT | 100% SOLD BY VALUE 329% HAMMER ABOVE LOW ESTIMATE TWO WORLD AUCTION RECORDS
Part I of the Alsdorf collection achieved a total of $15,062,250 with 100% sold by lot, 100% sold by value, and 329% hammer above low estimate. The top lot of Part I was a rare and magnificent bronze figure of Shiva Tripuravijaya, South India, Tamil Nadu, Chola period, circa 1050 that achieved more than four times its estimate selling for $4,350,000, establishing the record for a South Indian sculpture. Other notable results included a very rare and important marble head of buddha, China, Sui dynasty, AD 550-618 that sold for $2,250,000 against its low estimate of $500,000; a very rare ru-type brush washer China, Qing dynasty, Qianlong six-character seal mark in underglaze blue and of the period, sold for over five times its initial estimate realizing $562,500; and an album of landscapes and calligraphy attributed to Zhang Ruitu that achieved 21x its estimate selling for $3,210,000 setting a record for an album by the artist. Browse Part I results here. |
Sacred and Imperial: The James and Marilynn Alsdorf Collection: Part II 24 September 2020 TOTAL: $7,374,250 92% SOLD BY LOT | 99% SOLD BY VALUE 245% HAMMER ABOVE LOW ESTIMATE
Part II of the Alsdorf collection achieved a total of $7,374,250 with 92% sold by lot and 99% sold by value. The top lot of the sale was a hanging scroll by Xu Beihong (1895-1953), Horse that sold for $687,500 against a low estimate of $20,000. Strong prices were achieved for Imperial monochrome porcelains including a guan-type mallet vase, Qianlong six-character mark in underglaze blue and of the period, that achieved $400,000; and a rare celadon-glazed brush washer that sold for $225,000. Other notable highlights included a small white marble figure of a seated lion, China, Tang dynasty, that sold for $475,000 against a low estimate of $20,000; a gilt-bronze figure of Amoghapasha Lokeshvara that sold for $17,500; an Italian gilt-bronze, porphyry, lapis lazuli and hardstone collector’s cabinet that sold for $21,250; and a silk and metallic thread ‘Phoenix’ carpet, China, Qing Dynasty that sold for $17,500. Browse Part II results here.
|
Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Works of Art 24 September 2020 TOTAL: $1,181,250
Following the Alsdorf collection sales, Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Works of Art achieved a total of $1,181,250. The top lot of the sale was a rare Central Indian red sandstone figure of a Salabhanjika from the collection of Herbert and Florence Irving that sold for $500,000. Other highlights included a rare bronze figure of dancing Krishna, South India, Tamil Nadu, Chola period, 13th century that sold for double its estimate realizing $200,000. |
Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art 25 September 2020 TOTAL: $28,378,500 86% SOLD BY LOT | 96% SOLD BY VALUE 205% HAMMER ABOVE LOW ESTIMATE Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art achieved a total of $28,378,500 with 86% sold by lot, 96% sold by value, and 205% hammer above low estimate. The top lot of the sale was a Northern Qi grey limestone figure of Buddha that realized $2,550,000 against its low estimate of $400,000. Other notable prices included a pair of Qianlong famille rose ‘boys’ jars and covers from the Wanamaker Collection that achieved $1,650,000 against its low estimate of $800,000; a superb jade Qianlong period ‘elephant and boys’ group from the Irving Collection that doubled its estimate selling for $1,014,000; a rare large and finely cast bronze ritual tripod food vessel and cover, ding, that sold for $1,086,000; and an important blue and white barbed 'Auspicious Flower' dish with the mark of Shah Jahan, Yongle period (1403-1425) that sold for $1,470,000. Browse sale results here.
|
A Lasting Engagement: The Jane and Kito de Boer Collection 4-25 September 2020 TOTAL: $189,500 ARTIST RECORD FOR M. K. PARANDEKAR
The online auction, A Lasting Engagement: The Jane and Kito de Boer Collection, totaled $189,500. The top lot of the sale was Prosanto Roy, Untitled (Arabian Nights), that realized $13,750. Additionally, M. K. Parandekar, Untitled (Golden Temple, Amritsar) sold for $10,000, establishing the artist record. Strong results were also achieved for works by modern artists including Ganesh Pyne, Francis Newton Souza, K. Laxma Goud, Bikash Bhattacharjee, Somnath Hore, and Abdur Rahman Chughtai. Browse sale results here. |
Sacred and Imperial: The James and Marilynn Alsdorf Collection 4-29 September 2020 | Online
The James and Marilynn Alsdorf Collection Online offers an opportunity for those starting their collection as well as for established connoisseurs to acquire desirable works across a range of affordable prices with distinguished twentieth-century provenance. Highlights include porcelain from the Kangxi period, jade carvings, Himalayan bronze figures, a Chinese painting signed Lin Liang, and a Japanese painting attributed to Nagasawa Rosetsu. Browse the sale here. |
Contemporary Art Asia 4-27 September 2020 | Online
Christie’s New York is proud to present the Contemporary Art Asia online sale comprising a curated collection focusing on Modern and Contemporary Art from Asia. The sale is led by an exceptional collection of works by Leonard Tsuguharu Foujita, a thoughtfully curated selection of contemporary ink artworks and a prominent American private collection of Chinese Contemporary art, alongside works by renowned artists such Ding Yi, Zao Wou-Ki, Liu Ye, Walasse Ting, Zeng Fanzhi, Yoshitomo Nara and Yayoi Kusama. |
Crafted Landscapes: The Ankarcrona Collection of Japanese Lacquer and Asian Works of Art 10 September - 1 October 2020 | Online
Christie's is delighted to present, Crafted Landscapes: The Ankarcrona Collection of Japanese Lacquer and Asian Works of Art, an online auction from 10 September to 1 October. Sten Ankarcrona (1861–1936) began collecting Asian works of art upon his first visit to Japan in the late 1880s—a golden age of travel and European collecting. The young aristocratic Swedish naval officer became fascinated by the breadth of artistic production in the region and continued to add to his collection back in Europe. In 1923, by then an admiral, he was appointed by the King of Sweden to travel back to Japan on a special mission, where he spent two months making many more purchases. This love of Asian art was later passed down to his children and grandchildren, who have enriched the ensemble into the early 21st century. Comprising fine Japanese inro, beautiful lacquer incense boxes (kogo), delicately decorated writing boxes (suzuribako), Chinese porcelain and other exceptional objects, the collection symbolizes the Ankarcrona family passion and tradition of collecting. Browse the sale here. |
