HONG KONG.- Tokyo Chuo Auction’s autumn sales held from 31 August to 4 September 2016 at Tokyo Dome Hotel achieved spectacular results. In a packed saleroom, collectors competed vigorously for nearly 3,000 exceptional offerings, including rare Imperial works of art, classical and modern Chinese paintings, rare books and manuscripts, scholar’s objects and ICHIGO ICHIE - The Art of Tea Ceremony sale. Strong prices were achieved across all categories with many prices soaring above their pre-sale estimates.

Taking centre-stage in the Important Chinese Art Evening Sale was Xing Long Jie, a calligraphy scroll in semi-cursive script by Su Shi (1037-1101) which achieved a staggering JPY268,800,000 after a fierce bidding war between collectors in the room and on the telephone, far exceeding its pre-sale estimate. Formerly in esteemed collections, this superb work has excellent provenance and carries seals of numerous renowned collectors.

A pair of Imperial zitan openwork tables with auspicious design, Qianlong period (1736-1795) realized JPY224,000,000 after spirited bidding, well above their pre-sale estimate. Once in the collection of distinguished Hong Kong art dealer Mr Lai Loy, these exquisite tables are of simple yet tasteful design, with plain, smooth tops. Today high-quality antique zitan pieces are rarely seen in the market, and the current lot was even more remarkable as it was a pair of tables.

A further highlight in the Evening sale was The Tale of Zhao Feiyan painted by Qiu Ying (1494-1552) and inscribed by Wen Zhengming (1470-1559), which fetched JPY105,800,000. Combining Qiu Ying’s meticulously rendered painting and Wen Zhengming’s famed standard-script calligraphy, this work has been highly appreciated by collectors for its artistic and historical value, and bears numerous collectors’ seals and colophons.

The Fine Chinese Classical Paintings and Calligraphy sale was led by The Tao in Pursuit of Reclusion by Wu Zhen (1280-1354), selling for a strong price of JPY212,800,000. This album is composed of eight leaves, six of which are landscapes depicting Chinese scholars’ ideal life in nature.

In the Fine Chinese Modern Paintings sale, the highlight was Ladies and Lotus by Zhang Daqian (1899-1983) which sold for JPY112,000,000.

Tokyo Chuo Auction Hong Kong will hold its 3rd Anniversary Sales on 27 & 28 November at Four Seasons Hong Kong.