PARIS.- Today, Beaussant Lefèvre in association with Christie’s, sold the Portier Collection of Japanese Art at Drouot, in a packed saleroom. Upon the Parisian Asian Art Week, European and international bidders Americans, Japanese, etc.- have paid tribute to the fine taste of this family of experts and collectors. Numerous bidding battles have animated the sale, in the saleroom, through the telephones and via DrouotLive, resulting in a grand total of €1,511,525. 100% of the lots offered were sold.

The highly anticipated print entitled Deeply Hidden Love (Fukaku shinobu koi) by Kitagawa Utamaro, lot n°6, sold for an impressive €745,800 (including buyer’s premium), achieving a world auction record for the artist along with a world auction record for any Japanese print.

After the sale, Eric Beaussant and Pierre-Yves Lefèvre -auctioneers-, Géraldine Lenain -international director of Asian arts at Christie’s- and Alice Jossaume -expert in Asian arts-, have declared: We are very pleased with the success of the sale and with our collaboration, which highlighted the wise selection of four generations of collectors and major figures of the Asian art market. Quality, rarity, provenance and high-end bids make this collection one that will remain in the books of great Japanese art sales in Paris”.

• Deeply Hidden Love, (Fukaku shinobu koi) by KITAGAWA UTAMARO (1753 ? -1806), from the series “Anthology of Poems: The Love Section” (Kasen koi no bu) with a rare pink mica ground has led the sale, achieving €745,800, a world auction record for the artist along with a world auction record for any Japanese print. (Lot n°6)

• The Okubi-e of the actor Iwai Hanshirô facing left by UTAGAWA KUNIMASA (1773-1810) sold for €78,680. (Lot n°2)

• Another highlight of the sale, with €101,000, is the Bust portrait of the actor Tanimura Torazo as Washizuka Happeiji by TOSHUSAI SHARAKU (active 1794-1795), from the play Koinyobo Somewake Tazuna (The Loved Wife’s Parti-Coloured Reins) performed at the Kawarasaki theatre in May 1794. (Lot n°8)

• A Hagi Chawan (tea bowl) from the EDO period, 17th century, reached €36,400. (Lot n°34)

• A 19th century glazed model of a rabbit went for €26,000 far above its pre-sale estimate of €2,0003,000. (Lot n°90)

• Another Karatsu Chawan (tea bowl) dated from the MOMOYAMA-EDO period (1573-1603), 16th-17th century, realised €18,200. (Lot n°51)

• A Shino Mukozuke (serving vessel) dated from the MOMOYAMA period (1573-1603) was sold at €16,900. (Lot n°80)

• A Shigaraki Mizusashi (water jar) from the EDO period (1603-1868), 17th century, realised €14,300. (Lot n°83)

• A Shigaraki Chaire (tea container) from the EDO period (1603-1868), sold at €12,350. (Lot n°17)