Christie's Hong Kong Spring 2008 Results: RECORD HK$2.4 billion/US$310.7 million Christie’s, the world leading art business, concluded its Hong Kong Spring 2008 sale series with a combined total of HK$2.4 billion/US$310.7 million
for Asia.
• NEW WORLD AUCTION RECORD SET FOR CHINESE CONTEMPORARY
ART: Zeng Fanzhi’s Mask Series 1996 No. 6 – HK$75.4m/US$9.7m (Lot 156)
• NEW YUE MINJUN AUCTION RECORD set with Gweong-Gweong - HK$54.1m/6.9m (lot
157)
• 55 ARTIST RECORDS SET - 29 Japanese, 10 Indian, 5 Chinese, 10 Korean
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• ARTIST RECORDS INCLUDE:
o Contemporary: (Chinese) Zeng Fanzhi, (Chinese) Yue Minjun, (Indian) Subodh
Gupta, (Japanese) Aida Makoto, (Japanese) Hishashi Tenmyouya, (Korean)
Hong Kyoung Tack
o Chinese 20th Century: Liao Chi-Ch’un
• MARKET TRENDS:
o Notable was the exponential growth seen in the market for Japanese and Korean
contemporary art.
o The Contemporary Indian and Pakistani art section was 100% sold at HK$33m/
US$4.2m – the highest ever in the category in Hong Kong. A Contemporary Indian art
work appeared in the top ten Asian Contemporary Art Evening Sale (Subodh Gupta’s
Saat samundar Paar (10) – HK$9.3m/US$1.2m), underscoring the strength of this
category.
o Pan-Asian cross-buying continues to increase season after season.
The top ten results and high resolution images of the auction and select top lots are available for download:
Asian Contemporary Art: http://cshk.myftp.org/Asian%20Contemporary%20Art/
Chinese 20th Century Art: http://cshk.myftp.org/Chinese%2020th%20Century%20Art/
FINE CHINESE MODERN & CLASSICAL PAINTINGS
MAY 26
• COMBINED TOTAL: HK$241.1m /US$31m – a 20% increase over Spring 2007
• Chinese Modern Paintings total: HK$120.1m / US$15.4m
o Top Lot: Lot 1031,Wu Guangzhong, Old Wall – HK$7.9m/US$1.018m (image above)
• Fine Classical Chinese Paintings total: HK$121m / US$15.5m
o Top Lot: Shitao, Floral Album – HK$17.7m/ US$2.3m
• MARKET TRENDS: Bidding from private collectors from the People’s Republic of China was
particularly strong, reflecting the continued high demand for quality works in this category.
The top ten results and high resolution images of the auction and select top lots are available for download:
Chinese Classical Paintings & Calligraphy: http://cshk.myftp.org/Fine%20Chinese%20Classical%20Paintings%20and%20Calligraphy/
Chinese Modern Paintings: http://cshk.myftp.org/Fine%20Chinese%20Modern%20Paintings/
CHINESE CERAMICS & WORKS OF ART
MAY 27
• TOTAL: HK$734.7m / US$94.4m - representing growth of two and a half times the Spring
2007 season.
• THE HIGHEST TOTAL EVER IN THE CATEGORY AT CHRISTIE’S.
• Magnificent Clocks for the Chinese Imperial Court from the Nezu Museum
o Total: HK$ $281m/US$36m – almost ten times the pre-sale low estimate.
o This special 15 lots sale is the MOST VALUABLE HOROLOGICAL
AUCTION EVER HELD IN THE WORLD
o RECORDS SET FOR A CHINESE CLOCK (lot 1509, HK$39.5m/
US$5.1m) and FOR AN ENGLISH CLOCK (lot 1511, HK$36.3m/US$4.6m)
o Proceeds are to benefit the rebuilding of the Nezu Museum in Tokyo which is reopening to
the public in the autumn 2009.
• The Imperial Sale
o Total: HK$320m/US$41.1m
o Of note: An important early Ming copper-red decorated Kendi ewer which sold
for HK$34m/ US$4.3m (lot 1566).
o World auction record set for Qing dynasty ritual bell
(lot 1540, HK$32.8m/US$42m)
o World auction record set for Qing dynasty blue and white vase
(lot 1582, HK$32.8m/US$42m)
o World auction record set for Qing dynasty archaistic (Ming style) ‘Chicken’ cup
(lot 1587, HK$8.8m/US$1.1m)
• Important Chinese Rhinoceros
