The Paris Asian art sale held at Christie’s on 9 June achieved a total of €12,330,750 selling 92% by value. The top lot of the sale was a sculpture, a rare and important polychrome wood seated figure of Guanyin which was sold for an impressive €2,900,000.
Tiphaine Nicoul, Director of the Asian Art department: “Despite the difficulty for Asian collectors to travel, we are pleased to see that our Spring sale is well established in the minds of collectors who once again have demonstrated, via internet and over the phone, their continuing appetite for rarity, quality and fresh to the market works of art such as for an exquisite group of archaic jades formerly owned by Baron and Baroness von Oertzen and which realised a combined total of €455,000. We are also honoured by the results achieved for a set of five splendid imperial vases coming from the collection of Walter and Phyllis Shorenstein which was sold for €475,000.”
Sold: €2,900,000
The auction was highlighted by outstanding results including a gilt-bronze figure of the Medicine Buddha, Tibet, 15Th century, sold for €387,500 and a magnificent bell, impressive for its crisply cast decoration and lavish gilding, which was acquired for €800,000 doubling its presale estimate. Collectors have also been attracted by a rare and important bronze tripod vessel with fabulous taotie motifs (China, Shang dynasty, 12th-11th century) which was sold three times its presale estimate at €920,000. Additional highlights included a splendid cloisonné enamel vase and cover from a Private European Collection which was sold for €181,250.
The Guimet Museum preempted an important stone figure, India, Kushana period, 2nd century, from the Paul Guillaume collection sold for €37,500.
