Concluded on Oct 17, the 55th China Guardian Quarterly Auctions achieved a total of 145.5 million yuan across 13 sessions, including categories like Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy, Porcelain, Jade, Works of Art and Rare Books. Many sessions reached a high turnover rate of more than 90 percent. As a guide to the medium-sized auction market in China, the strong sale rates and prices realized this season reinforce the stability of the market.
Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy
This part set six sessions and offered nearly 2,500 lots this season, providing a wide selection space for collectors.
The “Masterpieces by Modern Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy Artists” session, a special brand of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy part and always attracting the attention of collectors, offered 80 lots and achieved a high turnover rate of 93 percent this time. “Contemporary Ink Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy” was also recognized by the collectors. As for the Classical Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy part, many lots were traded as usual. Many lots of “Classical Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy Ⅰ” were sold several times or even dozens of times more than their estimates, achieving a turnover rate of 89.6 percent.
Works by famous artists were still the most popular among collectors. This section was led by Zhang Daqian’s Character, Landscape and Calligraphy, which realized 2.53 million yuan. Following were Pu Zuo’s Horses and Landscape, achieving 1.495 million yuan; Huang Binhong’s Landscape, 1.438 million yuan; Zhang Daqian’s Landscape and Calligraphy, 1.265 million yuan; Li Keran’s Cattle, 1.058 million yuan. The “Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy” section was lead by Guo Yicong’s Lotus, fetching 1.21 million yuan. As for the “Classical Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy” section, Guan Daosheng’s Bamboo realized 1.96 million yuan, and Wang Hui’s Landscape sold for 897,000 yuan.
“The 55th China Guardian Quarterly Auctions have come to a successful conclusion with your extensive attention and support. We will continue to work hard to offer more wonderful works for you in the next year,” remarked Xiao Yang, General Manager of Quarterly Auctions-Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy Department.
Lot 365
Zhang Daqian
Character, Landscape and Calligraphy
136×64 cm、130×33 cm(2)
Price Realized: RMB 2,530,000
Lot 2404
Guan Daosheng
Bamboo
34×215 cm
Price Realized: RMB 1,955,000
Lot 363
Pu Zuo
Horses and Landscape
82×173 cm
Price Realized: RMB 1,495,000
Lot 323
Huang Binhong
Landscape
101×52 cm
Price Realized: RMB 1,437,500
Lot 367
Zhang Daqian
Landscape and Calligraphy
131×70 cm, 135×33 cm(2)
Price Realized: RMB 1,265,000
Lot 794
Guo Yicong
Lotus
144×192 cm
Price Realized: RMB 1,207,500
Lot 101
Li Keran
Cattle
69×136 cm
Price Realized: RMB 1,058,000
Lot 2208
Wang Hui
Landscape
160×70 cm
Price Realized: RMB 897,000
Porcelain, Jade and Works of Art
Five sessions were set in this part, including “Porcelain Collections of Guardian’s Companions”, “An Era of Inspirations”, “Charm of the Important Porcelains”, “Treasure&Pleasure in the Palm”, and “Porcelain, Jade and Works of Art”. It offered 2,200 lots and achieved a total of 46.28 million yuan with a turnover rate of 87.82 percent.
“Porcelain Collections of Guardian’s Companions” created a high turnover rate of 96 percent, and many lots in the session soared above their high estimates. Three evening auctions, “An Era of Inspirations”, “Charm of the Important Porcelains” and “Treasure&Pleasure in the Palm”, also achieved good results. Among them, the total turnover of the sector of "Zhaomutang Festival bowls of Daoguang Period in the Qing Dynasty" reached 1.087 million yuan.
Many highlights emerged during the auctions. A blue and white pilgerflasche with landscape, characters and poems from the Chongzhen Period in the Ming Dynasty fetched 575,000 yuan; a white glaze aromatherapy box in the shape of a rooster from the Qianlong Period in the Qing Dynasty, 506,000 yuan; a doucai plate with flower patterns, 483,000 yuan; and a bronze vessel with gold and silver and Taotie patterns, 460,000 yuan.
“This year’s turnover of the Porcelain, Jade and Works of Art part is basically the same as that of the same period last year. We noticed that new changes have taken place in the market. We will adjust the category and structure of the auction as soon as possible to meet market demand,” Liu Yang, General Manager of Quarterly Auctions-Porcelain and Works of Art Department, said.
Zhaomutang Festival bowls
Daoguang Period in the Qing Dynasty
Lot 4715-Lot 4719
Price Realized: RMB 1,086,750
Lot 4584
A blue and white pilgerflasche with landscape, characters and poems
Chongzhen Period in the Ming Dynasty
H 38.1 cm
Price Realized: RMB 575,000
Lot 4817
A white glaze aromatherapy box in the shape of a rooster
Qianlong Period in the Qing Dynasty
H 20.5 cm
Price Realized: RMB 506,000
Lot 4309
A doucai plate with flower patterns
Yongzheng Period of Qing Dynasty
D 15.5 cm
Price Realized: RMB 483,000
Lot 4881
Ming Dynasty
A bronze vessel with gold and silver and Taotie patterns
H 16.6 cm
Price Realized: RMB 460,000
Lot 4882
Qing Dynasty
A set of carved lacquerwares
Carriage L 31.5 cm, bottle H 21 cm, furnace H 16 cm,box L 7.3 cm
Price Realized: RMB 437,000
Lot 6110
Qing Dynasty
Ink sticks with landscape patterns
Various sizes
Price Realized: RMB 184,000
Rare Books, Rubbings and Manuscripts
In this season, the Department of Rare Books, Rubbings and Manuscripts prepared two sessions, "Collections from Japan" and "Rare Books, Letters and Manuscripts", with a total of 760 lots in various categories for the collectors.
"Collections from Japan" offered 135 lots, including ancient books, inscriptions, calligraphy and painting, maps, brocades, oil paintings and screens from Japan, all of which had no starting price. It achieved a turnover rate of 91.1 percent.
"Rare Books, Letters and Manuscripts" also gained a good result. The Bainaben edition of the Twenty-four Histories, which drew a lot of attention, realized 379,500 yuan; Tang Xuan Mi Ta Bei, 356,500 yuan; and 16 collections of Qiujiangji, 138,000 yuan.
“The average turnover rate of nearly 80% indicates the recognition and trust of collectors for the Department of Rare Books, Rubbings and Manuscripts,” Qiao Hao, Senior Manager of Rare Books, Rubbing & Manuscripts Department, said.
Lot 3196
The Bainaben edition of the Twenty-four Histories
13.8×9.8 cm
Price Realized: RMB 379,500
Lot 3477
Tang Xuan Mi Ta Bei
27.5×16 cm
Price Realized: RMB 356,500
Lot 3081
Wu Changshuo
Bamboo and Stones
137×34 cm
Price Realized: RMB 218,500
Lot 3046
Wang Meng
Landscape and Calligraphy
27.5×375 cm
Price Realized: RMB 172,500
Lot 3319
Qing Dynasty
16 collections of Qiujiangji
Price Realized: RMB 138,000