LONDON.- Sotheby’s biannual sale of Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art today brought the outstanding total of £14,064,175, well in excess of pre-sale expectations of £5.7-8.2 million. The auction established sell-through rates of 62.8% by lot and 89.3% by value.

Headlining the sale was a rare and magnificent Yuan Dynasty Blue and White 'Peony' Jar, Guan, which sold for the exceptional sum of £2.6 million/$4.1 million, more than six times pre-sale expectations (estimate: £400,000-600,000). The ‘Peony’ Jar, which came to auction from a Private Portuguese Collection, saw competition from four bidders and finally sold to an anonymous buyer on the telephone.

Commenting on the extremely strong results of today’s sale, Robert Bradlow, Head of Sotheby’s Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Department in London, said: “We are delighted with the results of today’s sale, which attracted an extraordinary amount of interest from our clients worldwide, many of whom travelled to London to bid from the saleroom. Buyers in this market, which is extremely buoyant, are ever-more selective and discerning, evidenced by the determined bidding we witnessed for the very best the market has to offer.”