The spring 2007 edition of Asia Week at Christie’s New York realized just under $40 million, the second highest total for Asia Week at Christie’s New York. The strong results in the Asian field followed record-breaking sales in London and Dubai earlier this year.
The Asian art sales were actively followed and participated in by a growing number of Asia-based clients, who underbid and bought in person, on the telephone and through Christie’s online bidding feature, Christie’s Live
“The first day of the spring 2007 edition of Asia Week at Christie’s was witnessed by a balanced mix of Western and Eastern bidders who actively participated in person, on the phones and online,” said Katsura Yamaguchi, head of Japanese and Korean art, and Heakyum Kim, specialist, Korean art.
The sale of Japanese and Korean art and the themed sale, Art for the Way of Tea, on March 20 realized $6.6 million, with the top lot a massive Choson period full moon jar, which realized $1,272,000, setting a world auction record for white porcelain from the Choson period. The Japanese section was led with “Pine Trees in Moonlight,” a pair of screens that achieved $880,000.
The sale of Modern and Contemporary Indian Art on March 21 totaled $8.6 million and was 79 percent sold by lot and 75 percent sold by value. It was led by Vasuedo S. Gaitonde’s untitled work from 1968, from the collection of Mme Krishna Riboud, which achieved $768,000.
There were further strong results for Progressive Movement artists as well as contemporary Indian artists, including Ravinder Reddy, Jitish Kallat, Atul and Anju Dodiya, Sudarshan Shetty and Chitra Ganesh. Combined with the results of the Modern and contemporary Indian works sold in the firm’s recent sale in Dubai, the total for Modern and contemporary Indian art sold this season is $12.7 million.
Indian and Southeast Asian art on March 21 presented an array of material from private collections, including the Thomas Solley collection. All eyes were fixed on the circa 1400 bronze figure of Parvati, which belongs to the category of cultural masterpieces that far transcend time and space. The sculpture achieved $2.7 million, a new world auction record for a classical Indian work of art. The sale total of nearly $7.5 million was the highest total ever achieved for classical Indian and Southeast Asian art at Christie’s. The sale was 87 percent sold by value and 70 percent sold by lot.
On March 22, important Chinese snuff bottles from the J&J collection, Part IV, were offered and fine Chinese ceramics and works of art crossed the block.
The highly esoteric and scholarly set of ten jades from the Song dynasty led the sale of Chinese ceramics and works of art. Formerly in the collection of Stephen Junkunc III, this set was bought by a private collector from China for $1.8 million.
The sculpture and ceramics section of the sale also performed strongly, leading with the Tang dynasty stone head of Buddha at $712,000, and the celadon double-gourd vase, Ming dynasty, reaching $420,000. Important snuff bottles from the J&J collection, Part IV, totaled $2,959,200 and highlights of the sale included an imperial enameled glass snuff bottle, Qianlong period, $273,600.
Prices reported include the buyer’s premium. For information, 212-636-2000 or www.Christies.com .
