LONDON.- Following on from the success of the live and online sale of Chinese Art from a German Family Collection in Paris which made €3.6 million, Bonhams Asia Week sales in London achieved a total of over £7.2 million. Leading the way was an extremely rare and important ‘Wu Ming’ lacquered and zitan Guqin, the most prestigious and ancient musical instrument in China from the late Ming Dynasty, (1573-1644) that sold for £698,900 at the Fine Chinese Art Sale on Thursday 2 November. It had been estimated at £180,000-240,000. The guqin was acquired in Beijing by the famous Dutch diplomat, musician, writer and sinologist, R.H. van Gulik in 1936 and was played by him at many diplomatic events.

Among other highlights in The Fine Chinese Art Sale were:

• A rare ‘Crane-Cry Autumn Moon’ style lacquered ‘Hundred-patch’ Guqin, Ming Dynasty. Sold for £368,700 (estimate: £30,000-50,000).

• A rare black lacquer and mother-of-pearl inlaid Documentary Pipa, a musical instrument of elongated tear-drop shape,17th century. Sold for £165,500 (estimate: £80,000-120,000).

Asaph Hyman, Global Head of Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art commented, “As the leading auction house in Europe and the UK for Chinese art, and the only one holding bi-annual sales in London, I am delighted with the strength of these results. This series of exciting sales featured some extraordinary private collections formed over many decades including some very rare and fine pieces which proved highly sought-after.”

The Marsh Collection: Art for the Literati (Part II), which took place on the same day, was crowned by an exceptionally rare and important inscribed blue and white and copper-red ‘virtuous officials’ brushpot, bitong, Kangxi six-character mark and of the period (1662-1722), which sold for £406,800 against an estimate of £250,000 - 350,000. Another top lot included a rare blue and white ‘Misty Mountain’ Brushpot, bitong, Shunzhi which sold for £114,700.

Other highlights of The Marsh Collection: Art for the Literati (Part II) were:

• A very rare blue and white ‘Spring Evening Banquet’ brushpot, bitong, Jiajing six-character mark, Kangxi (1662-1722). Sold for £108,350 (estimate: £50,000-80,000).

• A very rare documentary blue and white ‘Tang Emperor Visits the Moon Palace’ sleeve vase, Chongzhen, cyclically dated to the Wuyin year corresponding to 1638 and of the period. Sold for £102,000 (estimate: £30,000-50,000).

The Devotion: Culture, Country and Charity – Chinese Art sold for the Benefit of a Charitable Foundation, also on the same day, was led by a fine and rare pair of Turquoise-enamelled bowls, Yongzheng six-character marks and of the period which sold for £165,500 (estimate: £30,000-40,000).




Other highlights of The Devotion: Culture, Country and Charity – Chinese Art sold for the Benefit of a Charitable Foundation were:

• A peachbloom-glazed beehive waterpot, Taibo Zun, Kangxi six-character mark and of the period (1662-1722). Sold for £140,100 (estimate £60,000-80,000).

• A pair of fine Lavender-glazed bowls, Yongzheng six-character marks and of the period (1723-1735). Sold for £114,700 (Estimate: £60,000-80,000).

• A very rare famille verte model of foreigners aboard a ship, Kangxi (1662-1722). Sold for £89,300 (estimate: £7,000-10,000).

Earlier in the week, the two-day Asian Art sale in Knightsbridge on 30 and 31 October presented nearly 600 lots, including a large number of well provenanced pieces of porcelain, jades, paintings and decorative arts. The sale achieved a total of £1,7 million beating the total achieved from last year (£1.5million).

Highlights included:

• A kingfisher feather headdress, Qing Dynasty. Sold for £76,000 (estimate £2,000-3,000).

• An album of twenty-four ‘Porcelain Production’ Paintings 19th century. Sold for £74,060 (estimate £3,000-5,000).

• A rare and extremely large pair of moulded famille rose ‘Wu Shuang Pu’ vases, late Qing Dynasty. Sold for £66,440 (estimate 20,000-30,000).

• A fine and rare hardstone embellished ‘Elephant and Tribute Bearer’ double sided table screen, Mid-Qing Dynasty. Sold for £35,840 (estimate £15,000-20,000)

The two online only sales, The Marsh Collection: Art for the Literati (Part II) and Devotion: Culture, Country and Charity – Chinese Art sold for the Benefit of a Charitable Foundation, close on 6 and 7 November respectively, with all lots sold at no reserve.