Auction News Network

16th Century Bottle Sells for $683,000

Together, two bottles and a rare temple step accounted for almost $2m at Bonhams’ Islamic and Indian art sale in London yesterday. The bottles, as one might imagine, were very special, 16^th century Iznik vessels from the Ottoman Empire. One made a new world record at $683,000, and the other sold for $460,000. Both were from the collection of a Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, who paid $765 for them back in 1919.

Buddhist Sculpture Price Stuns Christie’s

It was a great night for selling the large wood Buddhist sculpture, but maybe a little embarrassing for Christie’s, as well. They estimated the 13^th Century Guanyin, the “bodhisattva of Compassion,” might go for $400,000. It sold for $12m at the auction house’s last 2012 art sale in Paris

Hong Kong Shrugs Off Turmoil

In a result that’s seen an encouraging sign of continuing demand in Asian markets, Sotheby’s closed out its six day Asian sales series in Hong Kong with a final tally of $385m. That amount was considerably higher than the auction house’s $300m pre-sales estimate for the 3,600 lots offered, and the second highest total Sotheby’s has achieved in a Hong Kong series.

Solid Asia Week For Christie’s

Christie’s was hoping to snare upwards of $50m at its series of Asia sales this week in New York. The auction house did considerably better than that, pulling in almost $76m during its three days of events at which it offered thousands of art objects, including jade, museum quality furniture, rare ceramics and porcelain. Among the highs was the sale of a rare 18^th century blue and white Ming-style moonflask, for which a buyer paid $2.7m, almost four times its high estimate.

India’s Art Takes Center Stage

The work of many of the leading artists in modern South Asian Art will come up for auction on Sept.15 at Sotheby’s in New York. In this rapidly emerging market, some individual pieces may go in the range of $500,000, including “The Cobweb Cloud” by Jehangir Sabavala, and “Eglise” by SH Raza.

Christie’s Record Asia Week

Asian collectors hurled their millions at heritage artworks, with Chinese Ceramics drawing the lion’s share. Chinese works alone contributed $76.75 million. When Christie’s Asian Art Week in New York was over, fully $117 million had changed hands. It was Christie’s highest total ever for a series of Chinese art sales and almost $40 million more than the previous record.

Half-million Pearls In This Canopy

A 150-year old canopy commissioned by a Maharaja who loved jewels will be sold by Sotheby’s on March 24 in New York. It incorporates a half million pearls and a lot of diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds sewn in to form an intricate floral pattern.

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