Bonhams took a dominant position on Asian arts in Europe on November 10 with outstanding sales of Chinese art in which the top item was an imperial Chinese vase that sold for $14,457,580.
The outstanding highlight of the 700-lot Chinese sale was a magnificent turquoise imperial vase decorated with chrysanthemums. The selling price made the vase the highest priced Asian artwork in London this year, according to the auction house. After keen and protracted bidding by three separate phone buyers, the vase was knocked down to a round of applause from the packed saleroom. It had been estimated at $8/12 million.
Colin Sheaf, head of Asian art at Bonhams, said, "This is the latest milestone in Bonhams growing international strength and it occurs in one of the most exciting collecting areas. All things in classic Chinese taste are currently in huge demand, and in this sale Bonhams simply had the best material and more of it than anyone else."
Other Chinese sale highlights included a blue and white pear-shaped vase from the Qianlong period, which made $810,000, and a rare enameled nine-dragon vase of the Qianlong period at $620,000.
