The China Guardian recently announced an overview of the company's performance of 2011. The auction categories included Chinese paintings, calligraphy, oil paintings, sculptures, rare books, rubbings, manuscripts, stamps, coins, bronze mirrors, jadeite, jewelry and watches. There were a total of 29,700 lots sold at the spring auction, autumn auction and four quarterly auctions. The total annual turnover exceeded 10 billion yuan, up to 11.23 billion yuan. Four of the lots broke though the billion mark and 144 lots sold for over 10 million yuan. It hit the highest record of turnover since the company was established. After a total turnover of 7.55 billion yuan in 2010, it increased by 48.7 percent in 2011.
Meanwhile, China Guardian maintains a leading position in the painting auction market, no matter in the international or domestic auction platforms. In addition, China Guardian's total turnover, deal rate, client acceptance and global influence have kept the highest standard in the auction industry. Several high turnover records were set by the China Guardian. Qi Baishi's Eagle Standing on Pine Tree; Four-Character Couplet in Seal Script sold for 425.5 million yuan, making it the highest price paid for a piece of Chinese art in 2011.
"After 18 years of development, China Guardian's annual turnover crossed the 10 billion yuan mark. We are very pleased about that. It also reflects an aspect of the art auction market's rapid development in two decades," said by Wang Yannan, the director and president of China Guardian. "At the same time, the artwork market received more attention and support by collectors in 2011. In this year, the artwork market became more rational and collectors were more mature. We believe the artwork market will move forward and become more stable in the future."