June Asian Art Auctions
Demonstrating Continuing Strength in the Chinese Market
On 15 & 16 June our Asian Art team returned to Crosshall Manor, Cambridgeshire, to hold their bi-annual Fine Asian Works of Art auction. Benefiting from the close proximity to London, the nucleus for the UK market, sale previews were well attended, and a strong result was achieved totalling £1.3 million; Lyon & Turnbull’s highest performing sale this year.
“Whilst the Chinese market continues to drive high prices, we are now seeing a more selective approach as buyers increasingly focus on high quality items with provenance to support. If it needed confirmation that Crosshall Manor is the right location for our Asian sales, after its debut in December, I’m delighted to reaffirm the positive difference this has made to our buying audience.” - Head of Department, Lee Young
Tuesday’s auction proved a particularly entertaining day, at times with electric activity on the telephones and internet as international buyers battled remotely to secure their desired lots. Textiles and bronze wares experienced sustained interest, while ceramics from the Yongzheng period enjoyed notable strength; a ruby-ground famille-rose ‘Peony’ bowl (lot 866) and an incised lime green Imperial saucer dish (lot 719) achieved £98,500 and £46,250 respectively.
A striking iron-red Dragon bottle vase, made for the ‘Hall of Prudent Virtue’, the main residence of the Daoguang Emperor at the Imperial Palace 1831, was a surprise of the day soaring past its estimate to £86,500 (lot 730).
Three paintings by renowned realist artist Chen Yanning from the Syllavethy Gallery in Aberdeenshire headlined the contemporary art section. All went to buyers on the day, and individually, the sale of oil on canvas Serenity (lot 537), broke the record for the highest price ever achieved by a UK auction house for this particular artist.
Prices achieved for Japanese items very much reflected the current market – one that is strengthening, but at a gradual rate. Bucking the trend was a cloisonné vase from the Meiji period, generating some surprise as it soared past estimate to reach £40,000 (lot 339).
Lee Young continued: “Looking at the results from the sale, Imperial wares were the stand out stars throughout the sale; one of the most memorable moments was when I sold the two Jiaqing ‘Hundred Boys’ famille rose vases (lots 833 & 834), as these family heirlooms were discovered on a visit to the Isle of Wight, where they had spent many years stored away in the bottom of a cupboard for safekeeping. After the consignor consulted with family, the likely heirs took the difficult decision to sell while the market was hot; having watched the sale live online they were delighted with this life changing result.”
*All prices are inclusive of buyer’s premium
SUMMARY OF TOP LOTS
- £98,500 | Lot 866: Fine and Rare Ruby-Ground Famille-Rose ‘Peony’ Bowl
- £91,300 | Lot 583: Fine Rhinoceros Horn ‘Prunus and Vine’ Libation Cup
- £86,500 | Lot 730: Fine Iron-Red Dragon Bottle Vase
- £74,500 | Lot 537: Chen Yanning (b. 1945) Serenity
- £46,250 | Lot 719: Incised Lime Green Imperial Saucer Dish
- £37,500 | Lot 512: Repousse enamel wall panel, Qing Dynasty, 18th Century
NEXT AUCTION
Fine Asian Works of Art | 01 December 2015 | Edinburgh