Fine Art PR Publicity Announcements News and Information
Fine Art PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

Asian Art Week at Christie’s totals $332.8 million

Christie’s Asian Art Week sales realize USD $332,783,188 (£272,497,754/ € 312,222,516/ HK$2,573,500,630), the highest total ever achieved for the auction series, continuing Christie’s leadership in the market. The seven auctions took place from March 15-17 with 88% sold by lot. Deep bidding was witnessed from Greater China across all categories with emphasis on classical Chinese paintings, huanghuali and zitan furniture, and archaic bronzes. There was active participation from registered bidders across 37 countries with representation from six continents including North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.

Highlighting the week was the record-breaking evening sale Important Chinese Art from the Fujita Museum, which alone achieved USD $262,839,500, surpassing the previous record for any Asian Art Week series in auction history. Impressive results were realized for notable private collections, including The Marie Theresa L. Virata Collection of Asian Art: A Family Legacy, which totaled USD $25,352,750 with 95% sold by lot; The Harris Collection: Important Early Chinese Art, which totaled USD $1,101,250 with 93% sold by lot; and The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part IV, which totaled USD $841,668 with 100% sold by lot.

Records were set across multiple object categories, including the top lot of the sales series, Chen Rong (13th Century) as Catalogued in Shiqu Baoji, Six Dragons, which realized USD $48,967,500, setting an Auction Record for a Chinese Painting Sold Outside of Asia. Additional records include the World Auction Record for an Archaic Bronze with the sale of A Magnificent and Highly Important Bronze Ritual Wine Vessel, Fangzun, late Shang Dynasty, which realized USD $37,207,500; and the World Auction Record for an Indian and South Asian Work of Art with the sale of A Large and Important Black Stone Figure of Lokanatha Avalokiteshvara from Pala-period India, which realized USD $24,663,500.

Christie’s has a global presence in 46 countries, with 10 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai, Zürich, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.

Bronze Ritual Wine Vessel, Fangzun, late Shang dynasty, 13th-11th century BC. Price Realized: $37,207,500