A whopping $1,082,500 was paid for a 19th-century Chinese jadeite censer, 6 1/4 inches high, at the March 22 Doyle auction of Asian art in New York. Surprising, since the estimate was $6,000 to $9,000. Other shockers: A pair of celadon screens ($20,000-$30,000) sold for $194,500. And a blue and white porcelain vase ($10,000 -$15,000), 18 inches high, brought $53,125. Many other pieces were also estimated way lower than the purchase price. Many of the buyers were Chinese. Chinese buyers are paying high prices at many sales because they have new wealth. Perhaps the Chinese value these works of art more than traditional American and Continental buyers do.
1 comment:
The new wealth of some Chinese does not propel them into wasting that wealth! They are VERY careful buyers. They do recognize artistic excellence in Asian pieces because that is part of their culture. The quality, rarity and beauty is there in a market that has been almost ignored by the Americans and Europeans in the past.
The personal ego of owning such pieces also plays a part in the extremely high priced items.
Antique Japanese art is stirring, and may be next. This comment provided by an experienced serious collector of both China and Japan.
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