The 37th quarterly auctions ended March 25, bringing in 252 million yuan in a four-day period.
Chinese calligraphy and paintings
Private collections dominated the sales of Chinese calligraphy and paintings.
The highlights included Character and Landscape by Fan Zeng and Song Yugui, which sold for 2.18 million yuan; Calligraphy by Qi Gong, 1.12 million yuan; and Liu Wenxi’s Character, 1.03 million yuan.
Works from the Ming and Qing dynasties also produced exciting results. Flowers by Ren Bonian from 1872 fetched 598,000 yuan; Character and Landscape by Sun Yi from 1700 sold for 506,000 yuan.
Chinese Comics
Liu Jiyou’s scripts about Wu Song (368,000 yuan)
For the first time in the history of the quarterly auctions, China Guardian launched a Chinese comics sales division, offering works by Xu Yansun, Liu Jiyou, and Wang Shuhui and other well-known comic artists.
All the 105 pieces were 100 percent sold by lots. The top items were Liu Jiyou’s scripts about Wu Song (368,000 yuan), and Li Kui (218,500 yuan).
Art for Academics
The 37th quarterly auctions also offered many works produced or collected by prestigious scholars, which drew intense market attention.
Zhang Daqian’s Peaches (2.87 million yuan)
Zhang Daqian’s Peaches, for example, sold for 2.87 million yuan. Zhang Daqian’s Landscape sold for 2.07 million yuan, and Qi Baishi’s Grapes brought in 1.72 million yuan.
The other highlights included Wu Changshuo’s Wild Goose (828,000 yuan), Pu Ru’s Landscape (1.38 million yuan).
While Landscape and Calligraphy by Zhou Huaimin and Wang Jilin sold for 414,000 yuan.
Modern and contemporary Chinese paintings
Tang Yongli’s Red Plum (920,000 yuan)
China Guardian also aimed to present emerging artists to the public together with established ones. Regarding the sales of modern and contemporary Chinese paintings, about 300 pieces were offered, 84 percent of which were sold bringing in 18.99 million yuan.
Top sellers included Tang Yongli’s Red Plum (920,000 yuan), Lu Yanshao’s Landscape (1.01 million yuan) and Wang Yuanqi’s Landscape (1.32 million yuan).
Porcelain, furniture and works of art
A cowpea red glazed zun vessel from the Qing Dynasty (782,000 yuan)
Porcelain sales realized a total of 18.11 million yuan. Top sellers included a Qianjiang porcelain table screen (897,000 yuan), and a cowpea red glazed zun vessel from the Qing Dynasty (782,000 yuan).
In addition, a copper figure of Amitayus Buddha sold for 598,000 yuan, and a duan ink stone from the Qing Dynasty sold for 368,000 yuan.
And furniture sales fetched 2.52 million yuan.