The 32nd China Guardian Quarterly Auction fetched 121 million yuan after three days of bidding on December 17th in Beijing.
In the Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Session l, Tending Donkeys by Huang Zhou was sold for 2.41 million yuan with the highest sale price. Landscape by Lu Yanshao, an artwork that had been published many times and belonged to the private collection of Lu's wife Zhu Yanyin fetched 1.84 million yuan. In the Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Session Ⅲ, Landscape by Long Rui realized 862,500 yuan. Character and Yak by Wang Mingming went for 71,300 yuan. In the Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Session Ⅴ, Landscape by Qian Gu was sold for 920,000 yuan. Landscape by Zhang Zongcang went for 862,500 yuan. Landscape by Zhao Qianli which once belonged to the private collection of Prince Gong’s Mansion realized 483,000 yuan.
In the Porcelain and Works of Art category, a tin teapot was sold for 885,500 yuan after several rounds of bidding. A series of seals from a private collector in Beijing attracted collectors’ attention. Two Shoushan Stone Seals were sold for 414,000 yuan. A Shoushan Stone Seal carved by Wu Changshuo was sold for 299,000 yuan. A blue and white jar from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), caught great attention from attendees even before the bidding began, and ultimately fetched 1.38 million yuan - the highest closing price in the Porcelain and Works of Art session. In the Jade and Works of Art Session, a Bronze Figure of Amitayus Buddha was sold for 552,000 yuan with the highest sale price and a bronze figure of Bodhisattva from the Qing Dynasty went for 494,500 yuan.
There were boiling canisters made by famous artists over a hundred years ago, welcomed by the collectors in the Exquisite Craft of Treasure - Silver Pot of Japan Session. The fine gold kettle with a wooden handle and jade knob by Syua fetched 920,000 yuan - the highest sale price in this session. The fine gold kettle by Kounann IsiguroⅠwas sold for the second highest price in this session.
Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy
In Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Session l, Tending Donkeys drawn by Huang Zhou in 1973 was sold for 2.41 million yuan - the highest sale price in this session, followed by Landscape, drawn by Lu Yanshao fetching 1.84 million.
In addition, Character and Landscape by Fu Baoshi realized 1.15 million yuan. Zhong Kui the Demon Killer was sold for 966,000 yuan. Calligraphy written by Qi Gong fetched 747,500 yuan. Phoenix and Bamboo by Yu Fei’an and Zhu Mingzhao was sold for 690,000 yuan, three times of the estimated price. Pine by Dong Shouping also realized 690,000 yuan.
Landscape by Long Rui was sold for 862,500 yuan in the Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Session Ⅲ. Character and Yak by Wang Mingming went for 71,300 yuan.
Character, another work by Wang Mingming fetched 402,500 yuan. Character by Peng Xiancheng was sold for 299,000 yuan.
The calligraphies and paintings from the Republic of China are favored by collectors due to their wide selection and moderate prices. Calligraphy by Wang Fuan was sold for 402,500 yuan. Landscape by Xiao Xun fetched 345,000 yuan. Pigeon By Pu Ru went for 345,000 yuan.
In Chinese Painting and Calligraphy SessionⅤ, Landscape by Qian Gu was sold for 920,000 yuan. Landscape by Zhang Zongcang went for 862,500 yuan. Further, Landscape by Zhao Qianli, which once belonged to the private collection of Prince Gong’s Mansion realized 483,000 yuan.
Porcelain and Works of Art
A tin teapot made by Lu Kuisheng, caught the greatest attention of collectors, and was sold for 885,500 yuan after several rounds of intense bidding in the Porcelain and Works of Art Session. The artwork is a rectangular shape made of tin and painted with special lacquer. It is of simple but exquisite workmanship with shallow ornamentation on both sides, one side showing a scholar rowing on the river, and the other demonstrating a scholar talking about the ultimate truth in the wild mountains. The shallow ornamentation displays spirituality and the natural essence of the way of cutting which honors intangible artistic conception rather than overly elaborate techniques.
There were a group of seal stones collected by owners of Beijing in the Porcelain and Works of Art Session, many of which were the private collections of experienced craftsman who make seals of Shoushan Stone. Most of the seals, preserved in batches were with the original label and package of the craftsman who made the seals of Shoushan Stone, proving the reliability of their sources and scarcity. Two Shoushan Stone Seals were sold for 414,000 yuan and a Shoushan Stone Seal carved by Wu Changshuo was sold for 299,000 yuan. In addition, a Doucai Bowl from the Yongzheng period in the Qing Dynasty was sold for 460,000 yuan. A coral-red and famille-rose Vase from the early 20th century fetched 345,000 yuan and a pair of blue, white and iron-red bowls went for 287,500 yuan.
The blue and white jar from the Kang Xi period in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) was the highlight of the porcelain show, even before bidding began. It fetched 1.38 million yuan - the highest sale price in the Porcelain and Works of Art session. The jar is very large but is still in good shape and without any deformations or marks. This clearly shows the superb porcelain making technique of the Kang Xi period in the Qing Dynasty. Another distinctive feature of the artwork lies in its pattern. A circular Panchi pattern is painted in blue and white around the upper part of the jar with triangular cicada patterns embellishing them. The body of the jar is totally blank. This kind of design, the asymmetry of pattern layout that concentrates major patterns in certain areas of the artwork while leaving in other parts an abundance of white space, represents the distinctive feature of the royal kiln during the Kang Xi period. The blue and white cup decorated with a red glaze from the late Kang Xi period also applies this kind of design. Though different in size, the cup bears some similarity with the blue and white jar both in the layout and choice of patterns, which shows that they were probably produced during same time. There are antiques preserved in the Palace Museum painted with the same patterns as the blue and white jar but in different sizes, indicating that this kind of work might have served different purposes according to their size.
The famille rose jar with patterns of flowers and birds from the Guang Xu period in the Qing Dynasty is of rather high quality and was also made by famous artists during that period. It was finally sold for 345,000 yuan. The jar has a neat shape and structure with excellent glazing. There are two lines of six characters written in regular script at the bottom of the jar, demonstrating that it was made in the Guang Xu period of the Qing Dynasty. The jar is a straight bottleneck shape with a bulging, long body. In the middle of the jar, two humming birds sporting among plum blossoms and chrysanthemums were vividly drawn with thick and smooth paint. The delicate drawing technique shows the superb artistic attainments of the craftsman.
A pair of Doucai Bowls from the Dang Guang period in the Qing Dynasty went for 402,500 yuan and the famille rose censor from the Dang Guang period in the Qing Dynasty were sold for 287,500 yuan.
In the Jade and Works of Art Session, a Bronze Figure of Amitayus Buddha was sold for 552,000 yuan - the highest sale price - and a Bronze Figure of Bodhisattva from the Qing Dynasty went for 494,500 yuan. The figure of Bodhisattva was carved with an ‘up’ hairstyle, a full and round face, and dressed gracefully. The Bodhisattva’s eyes are like flowers still in bud and he looks at the little boy beside him, full of affection. The adorable little boy stands with his ear towards the Bodhisattva, and it seems he is listening to him carefully. The statue is in thick paint and elegantly designed, creating a harmonious and warm atmosphere.
A Bronze Figure of Maitreya Buddha was sold for 402,500 yuan and the Dragon Robe (Lot No. *2881) from the Qing Dynasty fetched 230,000 yuan. The Dragon Robe (Lot No. *2868) went for 207,000 yuan.
Exquisite Craft of Treasure - Silver Pot of Japan
There were boiling canisters, made by famous artists over a hundred years ago, welcomed by the collectors in the Exquisite Craft of Treasure - Silver Pots of Japan Session. The fine gold kettle with wooden handle and Jade knob by Syua fetched 920,000 yuan - the highest sale price in this session.
The gold kettle by Syua is in a demure and mellow shape with smooth lines. The body of the kettle is divided into two parts by the waistline. The upper part has a rough texture with hammer marks. It does not have a specific shape or order; while the under part has a delicate and smooth texture without any trace of carving or hammering. The design of the spout is powerful and meticulously polished.
The blue jade knob, the handle made of sandalwood and the Sakura pattern engraved on the body of the kettle add elegance to this gorgeous work. The silver kettle is made of different materials matching perfectly with each other and the contrast between different textures gives it a unique style.
The fine gold kettle by Kounann IsiguroⅠwas sold for 598,000 yuan in the same session. In addition, the square silver kettle with an engraved flower pattern by Sakae Shin went for 172,500 yuan. The fine silver kettle with knob by Osamusan Matsumoto fetched 161,000 yuan.