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Current Sales |
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Fine and Rare Wines
21 Nov 2009, San Francisco and Los Angeles |
Antique Arms and Armor and Modern Sporting Guns
23 Nov 2009, 220 San Bruno Avenue, San Francisco |
California and American Paintings and Sculpture
23 Nov 2009, Los Angeles and San Francisco |
Decorative Arts and Glass
24 Nov 2009, Chester |
Doulton and Beswick Wares
24 Nov 2009, Chester |
British and Continental Collectable Ceramics
24 Nov 2009, Chester |
20th Century Prints
24 Nov 2009, Chester |
Watches & Wristwatches
24 Nov 2009, Knightsbridge |
Clocks & Barometers
24 Nov 2009, Knightsbridge |
British & Continental Pictures
24 Nov 2009, Knightsbridge |
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Full sales schedule |
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Steady does it at the Bonhams Hong Kong 2009 Spring Auctions
http://www.bonhams.com/hongkong
Amidst a backdrop of economic volatility, the Bonhams Hong Kong 2009 Spring Auctions achieved steady results with a sale total of HK$51.3 million. Carefully selected lots based on their rarity, quality, provenance, and with estimates priced conservatively attracted healthy bidding from private buyers eager to add to their collections of fine wines, Chinese ceramics and works of art, Chinese paintings and contemporary Asian art, jewellery and watches. All the categories sold well, with the fine and rare wine auction achieving a resounding success with 100% sold by lot and value.
Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art
Sale total: HK$13,632,600
The highlight of the auction was the Ruihue Tang collection, the first private collection of snuff bottles sold in Hong Kong since 2004. “The decision to sell in Hong Kong as opposed to New York was the correct one and the collection sold successfully. It was clear that buyers from Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan are focusing on buying fine quality and real value. Many sold for twice their estimates,” said Julian King, Head of Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art at Bonhams Hong Kong. In the various owner section, an extremely rare imperial wucai ‘dragon’ chess box and cover, Wanli six-character mark and of the period, sold for HK$2,640,000 against an estimate of HK$1,500,000 to 2,500,000, while a blue and white ‘soldier’ vase Kangxi achieved a sale price of HK$900,000 against an estimate of HK$700,000 to 900,000.
Chinese Paintings and Contemporary Asian Art
Sale total: HK$6,552,000
The Chinese Paintings and Contemporary Asian Art sale was extremely buoyant with the bidding dominated by private and new buyers from Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan and the US. The works of both traditional artists such as Qi Baishi and Fu Baoshi and contemporary artists such as Ding Xiongquan and Zhu Dequn found new homes in the private sector, with the top lots selling at above estimates. “We are excited by the increased participation of private buyers at the sale and we see the Chinese paintings market as being very stable, particularly in the realm of classical and traditional paintings,” commented Meilin Wang, Head of Chinese Paintings, 20th Century and Contemporary Asian Art at Bonhams Hong Kong.
The top lot sold was “Scholar under the Pine Tree” by Fu Baoshi (1904-1965), which sold for HK$660,000 against an estimate of HK$500,000 to 700,000.
Fine Jewellery and Jadeite
Sale total: HK$23,286,000
The Fine Jewellery and Jadeite sale saw a show of force from local private and new buyers, which accounted for 95% of the total buyers. “Asian clients have confidence in the market and the sale result reflects the local stock market movements. Buying levels have returned to stability after the stock market fluctuations. Serious and experienced collectors from Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan are still buying at sensible levels, with high quality diamonds, especially DIF diamonds, offered at good prices still very much in demand. Fancy yellow diamonds and signed pieces are also very popular with buyers,” said Edmond Chan, Head of Jewellery at Bonhams Hong Kong.
The top two lots sold were both DIF diamond rings. The first one was a marquise-cut diamond ring, weighing 6.09 carats, mounted in 18k white gold which sold for HK$2,760,000 against an estimate of HK$2,350,000 to 3,350,000. The second was a pear-shaped diamond ring, weighing 5.09 carats, mounted in 18k white gold, which sold for HK$2,280,000 against an estimate of HK$1,9500,000 to 2,950,000.
Fine Watches and Clocks
Sale total: HK$5,868,600
The Fine Watches and Clocks sale showed that Bonhams continues to be the leader in the sale of contemporary watches. “The buying is still strong for watches priced at current market levels. Our sale proves that not only traditional brands, but contemporary and new brands are in demand from collectors. Bonhams is the first auction house in the world to sell the Sarpaneva watch that features Finnish design and technology,” commented Carson Chan, Head of Watches at Bonhams Hong Kong.
The top lot sold was a Richard Mille fine and rare titanium manual wind chronograph watch which went for HK$600,000 against an estimate of HK%530,000 to 700,000.
Fine and Rare Wines
Sale total: HK$2,041,207
Bonhams Hong Kong’s wine auction was a resounding success with 100% of the 90 lots sold.
Continuing Bonhams innovative approach to wine auctions, the presentation of this sale took the format of an intimate private dinner held at the Harbour Room of the Island Shangri-La Hong Kong attended by key customers. A carefully selected menu was paired with fine wines for the guests’ enjoyment, turning the evening into a gastronomic event.
Bonhams was the first auction house to resume wine auctions in Hong Kong in April 2008 after a 10-year hiatus. Bonhams again pioneered a new wine auction format by presenting Hong Kong’s first “homegrown” wine auction with consignments sourced from local collectors and buyers coming from Hong Kong and mainland China.
“We are delighted to be here in Hong Kong for our fourth wine auction since April 2008. In our opinion, the market has stabilised with prices for fine wines continuing to achieve above average results at auctions,” said Malcolm Barber, Chief Executive Officer of the Bonhams Group.
The top lot was 12 bottles of Domaine de la Romanee Conti Assortment 1999 which sold for HK$202,300 against an estimate of HK$170,000 to 230,000.
For more information and/or images, please contact Mabel Au-Yeung on +852 2523 9935 or mabelay@netvigator.com
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America and in August 2003, Goodmans, a leading Australian fine art and antiques auctioneer with salerooms in Sydney, joined the Bonhams Group of Companies. Today, Bonhams is one of the largest one of the largest and fastest growing auction houses in the world. It offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street, and Knightsbridge, and a further seven throughout the UK. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Boston in the USA; and Switzerland, France, Monaco, Australia, Hong Kong and Dubai. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 50 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, go to www.bonhams.com.
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