A special shine: Bronze tops $350K

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – While traditional Asian art categories held on to their most-favored status at I.M. Chait’s Post-Asia Week Auction, other buying trends were noted at the $2.36 million sale that would indicate collectors are exploring new avenues.

“Clearly, Asian art collectors are expanding their horizons beyond the antique ceramics, jade and bronze that have been so highly prized over the years,” said Joshua Chait, operations manager at I.M. Chait. “A prime example is the 16-piece carved ruby

matrix tea set that was entered in our auction. It was not just a tea set; it was a flawless artwork, and collectors recognized it as such. It sold for $219,600.”
The top lot of the sale was a superb 15th century early Ming Dynasty Xuande Mark and Period gilt-bronze Bodhisattva.

The 9-7/8-inch figure elaborately decorated with cast “jewelry,” headdress and other adornments was chosen as the cover image for Chait’s printed catalog. It reached the high end of its estimate range, selling to an online buyer for $350,000.

Another category that showed strength was Chinese calligraphic scrolls and art. A striking ink-on-paper calligraphy by Wu Changshuo (1844-1927), signed with four seals of the artist and one collector’s seal of Chongsog (Pyong-U-Min), was bid to $73,200.

Also having provenance from the prestigious Songwon Collection, a Chinese calligraphic couplet by Zhang Daqian, signed and dated July 1978, with two seals of the artist, soared past its estimate to reach $67,100.

A serene Chinese landscape painting on silk by Pu Ru (1896-1963), ex Songwon Collection, depicted craggy mountains, trees and a figure navigating a boat. It more than doubled its high estimate to achieve $48,800.

For additional information, visit the Chait website at www.chait.com, call 800-775-5020 or 310-285-0182, or email joey@chait.com.