SUSTAINED APPETITE FOR FRESH-TO-MARKET WORKS OF ART
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE PAIR OF IMPERIAL JADE GILT-BRONZE CLOISONNÉ AND CHAMPLEVÉ ENAMEL 'PAGODA' INCENSE HOLDERS, QIANLONG SOARED TO SELL FOR HK$4.25 MILLION AS THE SECOND TOP LOT OF THE DAY
(ESTIMATE: HK$1.5 – 2 MILLION)
STRONG PERFORMANCE FOR ARCHAIC JADES WITH MOST SOLD LOTS SELLING MULTIPLES OF THE ESTIMATES
A SUPERBLY CARVED PALE GREEN JADE 'WATER-BUFFALO AND BOY' GROUP, QIANLONG LEADS THE SALE OF 'MARCHANT, EST. 1925: FINE CHINESE JADE CARVINGS' FOR HK$2 MILLION
Xibo Wang, Head of Bonhams Chinese Ceramics and Works in Hong Kong, commented: "Following the successful Chinese and Asian Art sales in London two weeks ago, Bonhams once again achieved some strong prices in Hong Kong today. Collectors continue to be selective, but there is a sustained appetite for fresh-to-market works of art, as we saw with our top two lots of the day, alongside a number of other lots that sold for many times the estimates. Archaic jade, a category that Bonhams has pioneered in the Hong Kong market since 2016, once again drew strong interest among collectors, resulting also in some multiple-estimate prices."
Other notable highlights:
• A rare archaic mottled-green jade vessel, cong, Neolithic, Liangzhu Culture (Lot 104) sold for HK$1,875,625, over 3 times the estimate (HK$600,000 – 800,000)
• A rare Imperial iron-red enamelled 'dragon' bowl, Kangxi six-character mark and of the period (Lot 134) sold for HK$1,563,125, nearly 8 times the estimate (HK$200,000 – 300,000)
• A very rare and large pale green and russet jade 'longevity' boulder, 17th/18th century (Lot 147) sold for HK$2,250,625 (Estimate: HK$2 – 3 million)
•A very rare large celadon-glazed carved and moulded 'flowers and fruit' bowl, Yongzheng seal mark and of the period (Lot 149) sold for HK$1,500,625, over two times the estimate (HK$600,000 – 1,000,000)
•A rare and fine pale green jade 'dragon' vase, hu, Qianlong (Lot 158) sold for HK$1,875,625, over four times the estimate (HK$400,000 – 600,000)