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
Horn Carvings from the Songzhutang Collection
o Total: HK$43.1m/US$5.5m – sold to benefit the Songzhutang Foundation
and its work to aid poverty-stricken school children in Mainland China.
o Top lot: A rare and finely carved lotus leaf-shaped rhinoceros horn waterdropper
from the late Ming dynasty - HK$8.2m/US$1.047m, twice its pre-sale high
estimate (lot 1716).
• Important Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art
o Total: HK$90.7m/US$11.6m
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o Top lot: A exquisite late Qing dynasty jade vase and cover – HK$6.5m/
US$832,000 (lot 1962)
• Charity Sale of the Imperial Glass Enamel Brushpot
o Sold on behalf of Taiwanese business leader and collector Mr. Robert
Tsao for HK$65m/US$8.3m
o Christie’s waived all premium and commissions for the sale of this lot.
o Proceeds of the sale benefited the relief efforts for the Chinese earthquake, and
other charity and non-profit organisations.
o This rare Imperial enamel glass brushpot set a world auction record for Imperial
glass in November 2007 (HK$67.5m /US8.6m) and it remains a world
auction record for Chinese glass.
• OVERALL MARKET TRENDS: The results demonstrate that property that is fresh to the
market with impeccable provenance and in excellent overall condition are in high demand. The rarest
works on offer saw bidding and buying activity from all corners of the world.
The top ten results and high resolution images of the auction and select top lots are available for download:
Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art: http://cshk.myftp.org/Chinese%20Works%20Of%20Art/
JEWELS: THE HONG KONG SALE
May 28
• TOTAL: Record HK$468.8m/US$60.1m - the MOST VALUABLE
JEWELLERY SALE EVER ORGANIZED BY CHRISTIE'S ANYWHERE IN
THE WORLD
• The top lot of the day was the 101.27ct F, VVS1 diamond which sold to a private
collector for HK$48.5m/US$6.2m - THE LARGEST DIAMOND EVER SOLD
AT AUCTION IN ASIA (image above).
• Other records include:
o World record price per carat for a colourless diamond: A 16.04ct D,
VVS2 circular-cut diamond which sold to an Asian private collector for
HK$ 26.1m /US$ 3.3m (lot 2342).
o World record price for a green diamond at auction: A square-shaped fancy
green diamond of 10.36cts which fetched HK$27.2m /US$3.5m (lot 2340).
o A world record price per carat for an emerald: The pair of Romanov emeralds
which sold to an Asian Private Collector for HK$ 18.8m/US$ 2.4m (lot 2346)
• MARKET TRENDS: Diamonds, both coloured and colourless, remained the show stoppers at
every Christie's auction worldwide and this sale was no exception. Also of note is that nine of the
top ten lots sold for over US$2million - an unprecedented event in the jewellery auction world that
underscores the strength of the international jewellery market. The sale reaffirmed the appetite of
private collectors, particularly in Asia, who confidently bid at top levels for the finest quality
gemstones, jadeite and jewellery.
The top ten results and high resolution images of the auction and select top lots are available for download:
Jewels: The Hong Kong Sale: http://cshk.myftp.org/Jewellery%20and%20Jadeite%20Jewellery/
IMPORTANT WATCHES
May 29
• TOTAL: HK$93m /US$11.8m
• Top
