Art
Christie's Bumper Auction Results In Hong Kong Highlight Asian Wealth
Christmas has come early for Christie’s
successful bidders, and for the auctioneer itself, which achieved
over
$333.8million in total at Hong Kong sales last month, another
indicator of Asia’s wealth.
The abundance of money available for this
market was palpable at the recent Hong Kong Convention Centre,
where art-, jewellery-,
watch- and wine- lovers alike congregated, seeking to outspend
each other for
investments of passion.
“The momentum
initiated at Christie’s auctions earlier this month in New
York and Geneva has carried here to
Hong Kong, sending a message to the market as
the year of the Dragon comes to an end. The past 6 days and 13
sales at
Christie’s Hong Kong were characterized by diversity and strong
but not
speculative prices,” said François
Curiel, president of Christie’s Asia.
Top lots of the auction included: an imperial
“falangcai” enameled glass brush pot from the Qing Dynasty
(1726-1795); a
Burmese ruby (62.64cts) and diamond necklace by James W. Cureens
for Faidee; a
Patek Philippe “Star Calibre 2000” pocket watch; and two cases of
Romanée-Conti, Vintage 2005, which sold for
$6,331,954; $5,169,842; $3,281,410; and $219,712 respectively.
Crowning
the sales charts was an item from the Asian 20th
century and
contemporary art collection, which achieved a combined sales
total of over
$87million; “La forêt blanche II” by Chu Teh-Chun sold for
close to $8million,
setting a world auction record for the artist.
“These figures
dispel any doubt that the Chinese and Asian markets remain
vibrant and strong,
with active buyers and major collectors from the region
participating at high
levels. The quality of works offered consolidates the role of
Hong
Kong as a leading auction centre that attracts a global
audience
competing for the best works available,” Curiel continued.
