Asian art pieces fared well during sales at Christie's and Sotheby's at the end of March 1999 in New York. Christie's total turnover for their three-day sales fetched $ 13,57 million while Sotheby's record $ 11,87 million in five sales.
Christie's were ahead of Sotheby's regarding Chinese pieces, notably from the collection of Hong Kong millionnaire T.T. Tsui. A superb pair of Meiping jars with yellow-enamelled base and a decor of pink dragons, Qianlong period, fetched $ 530,500 (inclusive of buyer premium).
A rare blue and white Yuan gourd however remained unsold at $ 850,000 while a Song Celadon pourer went for $ 233,500. A Yongzheng Celadon Amphora showing Persian influence sold for $ 442,500 (inclusive of buyer cost) at twice its high estimate.
An archaic Zhu bronze went for $ 288,500 while ancient paintings fared well such as a scene showing travellers on mountainous slopes which went for the incredible price of $ 1,43 million against a modest high estimate of $ 70,000. In fact dealers attributed this work to the great master Guo Xi.
Sotheby's fared better with Tibetan and Indian art, a 17th Century Tanka selling for $ 145,500 while a gilt bronze Yamatanka fetched $ 650,000, under its $ 700,000-900,000 estimate.
Home
