Qianlong at Bonhams

Bonhams just finished its Fine Chinese art sale in London.  Although I dont have the usually numbers, totals and percentages to report there is the top lot and another example of strong market for Qianlong.

The 700 lot sale included a Qianlong vase which was estimated to sell between $7.96 million and $12.75 million. 
The vase sold for $14.34 million including buyers premium.  It was nice to see the vase sell close to the pre sale estimate, and not by multiples over the estimate.  With that in mind, as appraisers, perhaps we can gain a better perspective on true value and not bubble prices or price anomalies.

Click HERE to see some excellent images of the vase.

Bonhams reported the following on the sale of the vase.

Bonhams took a dominant position on Asian Arts in Europe today with outstanding sales of Chinese Art in which the top item was an Imperial Chinese vase which sold for £9,001,250.

The outstanding highlight of the huge 700-lot Chinese sale at Bonhams was a magnificent turquoise Imperial vase, decorated with chrysanthemums, which sold for £9,001,250, making it the highest priced Asian artwork in London this year. After keen and protracted bidding by three separate phone buyers it was knocked down for £9m to a round of applause from the packed saleroom. Its pre-sale estimate was £5m to £8m.

These results in London's Asian Art Week, place Bonhams in a unique position in Europe, heading Asian Art sales for all auction houses. 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 week's sale Bonhams simply had the best material and more of it than anyone else."

Asaph Hyman, Senior Specialist with Bonhams Chinese Art Dept said: "It has been a very great privilege to have sold such an extraordinary work of art. The interest in Chinese art continues to grow and the number of remarkable objects coming to auction is astonishing. Bonhams will continue its efforts to offer the market the rarest items of Chinese art."

Other Chinese sale highlights included a blue and white pear shaped vase from the Qianlong period which made £505,250, and a very fine rare enameled nine dragon vase of the Qianlong period at £385,250.