The 38th China Guardian Quarterly Auctions ended with a total of 84.1387 million yuan on June 22. There were six sessions covering fine collections of Chinese painting and calligraphy, porcelain, jade and other works of art. The Modern Chinese Painting and Calligraphy session sold out by lots, and the Jade and Works of Art session achieved 82.89%, which was approved by the market highly. The 39th China Guardian Quarterly Auctions will run in mid-September following a two-month-break.
Modern Chinese Painting and Calligraphy ( I )
Long Rui’s Landscape
On the morning of June 21, the session received unanimous favorable comments from all the collectors owing to the excellent qualities of the collections, and finally achieved a remarkable result of an 86% turnover rate, bringing in 17 million yuan.
The highlights included Calligraphy by Zhang Shizhao, which was sold for 345,000 yuan; and Calligraphy by Pan Boying, 126,500 yuan. Long Rui’s Landscape, which was the embodiment of the lofty artistic standards of the author, fetched 690,000 yuan because of its gigantic size and magnificent momentum. Landscape by Shandong artist Zhou Shaohua brought in 517,500 yuan, which was made in the summer of 1981. Moreover, Character and Horses by Shi Guoliang, which depicts the lifestyle of pastures vividly and harmoniously, went for 632,500 yuan; the artist’s other work Characters and Elephants, fetched 322,000 yuan.
Modern Chinese Painting and Calligraphy
Yu Youren’s Calligraphy
Fell under the hammer on the afternoon of June 21, the session offered a total of 703 masterpiece items, achieved a success of 100% turnover rate and 15.27 million yuan gross turnover.
Character and Landscape by Bai Zongwei fetched 368,000 yuan. Wang Qian’s Character was sold for 161,000 yuan. Landscape by Wu Qinmu in 1943 brought in 115,000 yuan.
Striped screens and couplets were the most headline-grabbing collections in this session. Besides calligraphers and painters, there were also many collections by celebrities from the military, political, literary and art circles, for example, Yu Youren’s Calligraphy (322,000 yuan), Zheng Xiaoxu’s Calligraphy (126,500 yuan) and Pan Linggao’s Calligraphy (115,000 yuan).
Modern Chinese Painting and Calligraphy (Ⅱ)
Calligraphy by Guo Moruo
Held on June 22, the session presented 290 famous pieces of art selected from Qi Baishi, Zhang Daqian, Wu Changshuo, Lu Yanshao, Cheng Shifa, Xie Zhiliu and Liu Lingcang. The collections covered plentiful themes and were sold for a total of 12 million yuan with 72 percent sold by lots.
The famous calligraphers’ works were the most popular in the auction. Calligraphy by Guo Moruo in 1965 was sold for 713,000 yuan; Calligraphy by Yu Youren, 402,500 yuan; Calligraphy by Fan Zeng in 2008, 253,000 yuan; and Calligraphy by Qi Gong in 1990, 207,000 yuan.
Flowers by Zhang Daqian
The painting section also had a few highlights. For example, Flowers by Zhang Daqian in 1925 was the top work in his early years and brought in 517,500 yuan; Landscape by Shao Yixuan, 402,500 yuan; Pine by He Haixia, 345,000 yuan; and Roses and Pine by Chen Banding in 1929, 218,500 yuan.
Classical Chinese Painting and Calligraphy
Calligraphy by Wen Zhengming
The session provided 335 competitive products selected over the past dynasties and earned a total of 13.63 million yuan.
In the calligraphy part, Calligraphy by Wen Zhengming fetched 1,012 million yuan; Calligraphy by He Shaoji, 437,000 yuan; Calligraphy by Dong Qichang, 425,500 yuan.
Zheng Xie’s Bamboo and Rock
The highlight of the painting sales included Zheng Xie’s Bamboo and Rock, sold for 862,500 yuan; an anonymous artist’s Character and Landscape, 770,500 yuan; charming and interesting Flowers, Landscape by a series artists including Hu Gongshou, 494,500 yuan; Landscape by Sheng Mao, a spectacular scroll, 460,000 yuan; Zhu Da’s Orchid, 402,500 yuan; Tang Dai’s Landscape, 368,000 yuan.
Porcelain Snuff Bottle and Art Literature
A Familee-Rose ‘Three Goats’ Bowl (made during Emperor Dao Guang’s reign)
The highlights in this session included a familee-rose ‘Three Goats’ Bowl (made during Emperor Dao Guang’s reign) from the Qing Dynasty, which used to be No. 3098 collection in China Guardian 2011 Autumn Auctions, brought in 483,000 yuan. An Alum-Red Cup which was made during Emperor Jia Jing’s reign in the Ming Dynasty fetched 287,500 yuan.
A Large Famille-Rose Jar from the mid-Qing Dynasty, sold for 253,000 yuan; A Famille-Rose Vase (made during Emperor Guang Xu’s reign) from the Qing Dynasty, 230,000 yuan; A Blue-And-White Writing-Brush Pot (made during Emperor Kang Xi’s reign) from the Qing Dynasty, 207,000 yuan.
A pair of huge blue and white vases fetched 425,500 yuan. It was made during the Republic of China and collected by Huang Jinmao, the collector in the operatic circle.
In snuff bottle sales, a famille-rose snuff bottle which was made during Emperor Qian Long’s reign was sold for 86,250 yuan. A famille-rose snuff bottle made during Emperor Dao Guang’s reign brought in 69,000 yuan. Both of the two collections were fine arts from the imperial kilns during the Qing Dynasty.
Jade and Works of Art
A Gilding Copper Figure Of Manjusri (made during Emperor Kang Xi’s reign)
This session brought together 982 collections from numerous categories including jade, works of art, Buddha figures and scholar wares bringing in a total of 16.71 million yuan.
A jade pendant from the Ming Dynasty with sophisticated and concise cuts, and a white jade pendant from the Qing Dynasty, that was once was sold at the Sotheby’s 2012 Autumn Auction in Hong Kong, both fetched 126,500 yuan.
With obvious characteristics of the times and exquisite craft, a gilding copper figure of Manjusri (made during Emperor Kang Xi’s reign) brought in 1,265 million yuan. In addition, a copper figure of Mahasiddhas from the Qing Dynasty went for 414,000 yuan.
A copper censer from the mid-Qing Dynasty which was brought back to China from Japan fetched 299,000 yuan. A red sandalwood seal box from the early Qing period was sold for 172,500 yuan.