The 40th China Guardian Auction was held in Beijing from Dec 20 to 21.
The 40th China Guardian quarterly auctions came to an end in Beijing on Dec 21, with a gross turnover of 70.16 million yuan. Since then, the total transaction volume of China Guardian’s quarterly auctions in the past 10 years hit 7.6 billion yuan, a record high for Chinese medium-sized auctions.
China Guardian has organized up to 40 quarterly auctions in the past ten years, with more than 110,000 artistic works on display. Persistent with its professional attitude and standard, China Guardian has attracted a number of collectors and amateurs from all walks of life. What lies behind the new record high of turnover is the public trust toward China Guardian and its firm foundation for further development.
The 40th China Guardian Auction was held in Beijing from Dec 20 to 21.
Classical Chinese Painting and Calligraphy
The trade rate of “Classical Chinese Painting and Calligraphy” session stayed stable, with some artistic pieces selling at over 10 times estimate prices. The auction saw up to 15.24 million yuan in transactions in the classic work category.
Wen Zhengming’s Calligraphy, sold for 2.125 million yuan.
A highlight in classical Chinese calligraphy is Wen Zhengming’s Calligraphy. His tender yet highly expressive hand-writing style is perfectly demonstrated in this work, which was auctioned at a final price of 2.125 million yuan, 24 times more than the estimated price. Another highlight is Dong Qichang’s Calligraphy, which is sold for 494,500 yuan.
Character and Landscape, sold for 1.38 million yuan.
Among classical paintings for the session, the anonymous work, Character and Landscape, is a must-see. Its delicate picturesque composition and exquisite drawing skill create an ancient, peaceful and stylish artistic atmosphere. The piece was sold for 1.38 million yuan, exceeding nearly 27 times the estimated price.
Other highlights include Gong Xian’s Landscape, which sold for 483,000 yuan, and Li Song’s Character and Landscape, which fetched 345,000 yuan.
Contemporary and Modern Chinese Painting and Calligraphy
With a variety of artistic pieces at reasonable estimated prices, the total transaction volume of the Contemporary and Modern Chinese Panting and Calligraphy session reached 24.01 million yuan.
In the contemporary painting and calligraphy section, creative works by well-known artists remains the market focus. Highlights include Character and Horses by Peng Xiancheng (333,500 yuan) and Landscape by Liu Baochun (287,500 yuan).
Shen Zengzhi's Calligraphy, sold for 632,500 yuan.
In the modern painting and calligraphy section, works by master of Chinese studies Shen Zengzhi drew market attention. Two of his calligraphy works sold for high prices, 632,500 yuan and 437,000 yuan. Wu Changshuo’s calligraphy works were also well received, one of them reaching 517,500 yuan.
Modern Chinese Painting and Calligraphy
This sale, offering more than 200 exquisite works, realized a total of 8.845 million yuan, 80 percent sold by lot.
Huang Yongyu’s Plum, sold for 460,000 yuan.
Huang Yongyu’s Plum, which demonstrates the true beauty of the plum and delicately explores the aesthetic implication of national spirit attached into it, sold for 460,000 yuan. Huang Zhou’s Character, which vividly reveals the passion and enthusiasm of two minority ethnic dancers, fetched 437,000 yuan.
Other highlights are Huang Binhong’s Landscape (391,000 yuan), Birds and Flowers, Character and Landscape by Ju Lian, Qian Hui’an and Zhu Menglu (391,000 yuan), Wu Shixian’s Landscape (253,000 yuan).
Porcelain
At the porcelain sale on Dec 20, more than 500 items from the Ming and Qing dynasties were offered and brought in 7.69 million yuan.
A pair of blue glazed dishes of the Yongzheng (1678-1735) period of the Qing Dynasty, sold for 690,000 yuan.
Imperial porcelain is always popular and highly valued. One of the representative works is a pair of blue glazed dishes of the Yongzheng (1678-1735) period of the Qing Dynasty regarded as the top collection of the auction, which sold for 690,000 yuan. The glazing color is fresh yet elegant, which perfectly matches the season of winter.
A blue and white vase painted with characters and poems from the Shunzhi region of the Qing Dynasty sold for 287,500 yuan. A Lujun-type vase of a lantern type from the Qianlong region fetched 241,500 yuan.
Jade and Works of Art
This session maintained high popularity, with a turnover of 14.39 million yuan, 83 percent sold by lot.
A carved white jade “l(fā)ions” censer, sold for 402,500 yuan.
In the jade ware section, a carved white jade “l(fā)ions” censer was a representative work of the middle Qing Dynasty (1636-1912), with final price of 402,500 yuan.
Other highlights included an ink stone from the Qing Dynasty (184,000 yuan), a Qing Dynasty huanghuali brushpot (138,000 yuan) and a Qing Dynasty vase (92,000 yuan).