On Nov. 21, 2010, a Ming Dynasty Huanghuali Six-poster Canopy Bed with Latticework Railing, sold at China Guardian 2010 Autumn Auction at a price of Euro 4.312 million after 36 rounds of intense biddings, a new record in the history of Huanghuali Furniture Auction. Another lot, a pair of Huanghuali Compound Wardrobes, with 287cm high and 159cm wide, was sold in the evening of Nov. 20 at Euro 3.976.
Qiao Hao, Project Manager of the Department of Porcelain and Works of Art in China Guardian said: “The auction of Ming Style Huanghuali Furniture at China Guardian 2010 Autumn Auction is the largest in scale in China so far. The production time of the auction lots can be dated back to between early Ming and mid-Qing Dynasties. It cover almost all forms of Huanghuali furniture, such as chairs, tables, cupboards, beds, etc.. More importantly, more than one third of them have been acknowledged or recorded in books and thesis.
Therefore, the new record lives up to its name and fully demonstrates China Guardian’s leading position in the auction of Chinese classic furniture. More attention has been given to the academic value of Ming style Huanghuali furniture, but this auction enabled the integration of Huanghuali furniture’s academic and market value which is a big step to a new stage. I believe it will promote the research and protection of Huanghuali furniture in the future.”
The above mentioned Ming Dynasty Huanghuali Six-poster Canopy Bed started to auction at 9:35pm on Nov. 21. Immediately after the auctioneer announced the minimum bid at Euro 980,000, several buyers at site and buyers entrusted through phone calls started to bid and after 36 rounds of bidding the lot was bought by a buyer onsite at a record price of Euro 4.312 million.
The Huanghuali Rectangular Recessed-leg Table with Everted Flanges of Ming Dynasty is sold at Euro 2.352 million, four times of appraisal and Four Huanghuali Embedded Marble Chairs of Early Qing Dynasty are sold at Euro 1.77 million.