NEW YORK, NY.- The Chinese Works of Art from the Scholar’s Studio sale at
Bonhams totaled $2.89 million that was led by strong selections of huanghuali furniture from the esteemed collection of Mark S. Pratt, a career United States diplomat whose tenure was completed with his retirement as the US Consul General at Guangzhou in 1989.
The highlight of the afternoon was the sale of a huanghuali kang table, 18th century that achieved $341,000, almost 7 times its high estimate of $50,000. Huanghuali furniture is highly desirable for its color and distinctive grain and was particularly prized during the Ming and early Qing dynasties. A number of fine Chinese paintings also from the Pratt collection were the subject of competitive bidding with an eighteenth century album by Li Shizhuo (1687-1770) selling for $56,250, over seven times the estimate, and an album by Chen Hongshou (1768-1822) selling for $75,000, five times the estimate.
Dessa Goddard, Vice President and Director of Asian Works of Art at Bonhams in North America says, “The results of today’s sale has yet again demonstrated the strength of our offerings. The Chinese art market remains extraordinarily buoyant as we are seeing significantly more knowledgeable Western and Chinese collectors entering the arena. We are feeling very optimistic about our next sale in Hong Kong.”
Other highlights of the afternoon spanned various categories, which include:
· An anonymous Ming dynasty hanging scroll that carried a pre-sale estimate of $60,000 – 80,000, which sold for $149,000. The vibrant and dynamic painting illustrates a knickknack peddler, an itinerant merchant and his cart are surrounded by animated children. The scene is intricately detailed with delicately drawn faces, rich detailing of the merchant’s wares, and the sumptuous fabric of the children’s clothes.
· Another beautiful hanging scroll, an ink and color on paper work by Zhang Daqian (1899-1983), one of the most prodigious and desired Chinese artists of the 20th century, titled Fish and Flowers, 1981, which brought in $93,750.
· An excellent collection of jades, amber and hardstone carvings, most from a single Midwestern collection, that were fought over by Mainland Chinese buyers both in the room and via the internet. Several pieces sold far over their estimates with 23 of the 26 lots finding buyers. The collection sold for over a half a million dollars.
The next sale of Chinese art will be held in Hong Kong. A notable highlight from this sale, which traveled to Bonhams’ Madison Avenue galleries to preview alongside the New York sales, is an imperially inscribed album by Wang Hui (1632-1717) that received a great deal of attention. Museums and high-end collectors now await it to be offered at the Fine Chinese Works of Art sale in Hong Kong on June 4, 2015.
The next Chinese Art sale in New York will be held in September 2015.
