Asian Art | Knightsbridge, 13-14 May
Collector's Treasures: Asian Art Online ,13-20 May
Fine Chinese Art | New Bond Street, 16 May

London – Bonhams saw another highly successful series of Asia Week sales with the combined total exceeding £7.34 million, demonstrating Bonhams continued lead in Chinese and Asian Art in the UK and Europe. The exceptional private collections in the Fine Chinese Art sale on Thursday 16 May were the highlight of the week with The John E. Bodie OBE (1930-2023) Collection of Chinese Art achieving £2.25 million.

Asaph Hyman, Global Head of Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, commented, "Bonhams continues to fly the flag for London as a key centre for Chinese and Asian Art. It was a great privilege to offer the John E. Bodie OBE collection, and the exciting results were a testament to his connoisseurship as well as the strength of the market. Other private collections equally commanded tremendous interest, led by the magnificent and rare imperial robe dating to the Yongzheng period. We very much look forward to welcoming all to our forthcoming sales in Hong Kong, Paris, Stockholm and Copenhagen, showcasing wonderful collections."

The Fine Chinese Art Sale (16 May), which featured several remarkable private collections, achieved an impressive £4.85 million in total with 86% sold by lot. An extremely rare and spectacular imperial, yellow-ground embroidered silk 'Dragon' Robe, Jifu Yongzheng, captivated collectors and sold for £368,700, more than six times its original estimate, (£60,000-£80,000).

Testimony to their exceptional quality and provenance, the private collections commanded striking prices.

• Highlights from The John E. Bodie OBE (1930-2023) Collection of Chinese Art included a rare Ming-style white-glazed deep bowl, Xuande six-character mark, Kangxi, sold for £254,400 (estimate £4,000-£6,000), a very rare imperial Wucai 'Boys' Jar, Wanli six-character mark and of the period, sold for £127,400 (estimate: £60,000-£80,000), a very rare peachbloom glazed 'Beehive' waterpot, Taibozun, Kangxi six-character mark and of the period which sold for £190,900 over three times its pre-sale estimate (£60,000-£80,000).

• Property from a Princely Collection included an exceptional Yixing Stoneware Slip-decorated Brushpot, Bitong, Yang Jichu three-character seal-mark, Qianlong (1736-1795) which sold for £178,200 (estimate £120,000-£150,000).

• The Klas E. Böök (1909-1980) Collection of Chinese Furniture, amassed by the Swedish diplomat and civil servant who served as the Swedish Ambassador to Beijing from 1956-1961, featured a pair of fine Huanghuali Round-Corner cabinets, Yuanjiaogui, 18th century, which sold for £82,950 (estimate of £40,000-£60,000).

Earlier in the week, the Asian Art sale (13-14 May) at Bonhams Knightsbridge also saw strong results, achieving a total of £1.85 million with 86% sold by lot, making more than double its pre-sale estimate. Leading the way was an exceptional imperial, yellow-ground underglaze blue floral vase, Yuhuchunping, Yongzheng, which sold for £71,520 a staggering 47 times its estimate (£1,500-£2,000).

Other highlights from the Asian Art sale included:

• A collection of Chinese and Japanese Bronze vessels, 19th century and later, sold for £37,120, (estimate: £800-£1,200).

• A large bronze figure of Guanyin, Ming Dynasty, sold for £35,840 (estimate: £1,200-1,500).

• A pair of Famille Rose 'Agricultural Scene' Vases, Jiaqing to Daoguang, sold for £34,560 (estimate: £12,000-£15,000).

The Collector's Treasures: Asian Art Online sale concluded the Asia Week sales. The 288-lot sale ran from the 13-20 May and achieved a total of more than £633,326 with 84% sold by lot. The top lot was a Bronze Incense Burner, Chongzen, nine-character mark, 19th century which achieved £95,650 well above its estimate (£2,000-£3,000).

Forthcoming Chinese Art sales include:

• Ko Fook Chuen's Lifelong Passion: Exquisite Chinese Art from the Hall of Refined Elegance| Hong Kong, 29 May and online 24 May-7 June
• Jules Speelman: Completing a Cycle-60 Years of Devotion | Paris, 11 June
• Asian Sale | Copenhagen, 11 June
• Chinese Art | Paris, 12 June
• Asian Spring Sale | Stockholm, 13 June

21 May 2024