The 57th China Guardian Quarterly Auctions concluded on Nov 12, totaling 167 million yuan and an average turnover rate of 85 percent across 11 sessions.
With the stellar results, China Guardian Quarterly Auctions, an epitome of China’s medium-sized auction platforms, has again showed its strong leading role in rebooting the market. In addition, combining online and offline auctions together, the Quarterly Auctions also serves a viable new approach to auctions.
Chinese painting and calligraphy
About 2,200 items in four sessions of Chinese painting and calligraphy went on auction, raising 101.4 million yuan, with the turnover rates of two sessions hitting nearly 90 percent. The most popular lot, A Standing Horse by Xu Beihong, was traded at a staggering price of 12.o75 million yuan. The session of ancient Chinese painting and calligraphy, featuring 562 lots, fetched 25.91 million yuan and achieved a turnover rate of about 80 percent.
"Buyers have shown a growing preference for items with artistic value and cultural connotations. Great works, either created by famous artists or anonymous ones, have received enthusiastic responses from buyers,” remarked Xiao Yang, manager of the Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Department of China Guardian Quarterly Auctions.
Lot 421
Xu Beihong
A Standing Horse
Ink on paper, mounted for framing
134×65 cm
Price realized:RMB 12,075,000
Lot 444
Lu Yanshao
Picking Herbs in the Deep Mountains
Ink on paper, hand scroll
33×322 cm
Price realized:RMB 3,565,000
Lot 2010
Anonymous
The Four Heavenly Kings
Color on silk, mounted for framing
160×90 cm
Price realized:RMB 862,500
Lot 1776
Zhang Zeduan (inscription), Xu Shichang, Wang Shoupeng, Zhao Erxun, etc.
A Hand Scroll of Along the River During the Qingming Festival, hand scrolls of calligraphy in various styles
Ink and color on silk, ink on paper, hand scrolls
(One) 31×717 cm、31×70 cm
(Two)31×97 cm、31×98 cm、31×110 cm、31×99 cm、31×95 cm、31×61 cm、31×62 cm、31×52 cm、31×33 cm、31×33 cm、31×46 cm
Price realized:RMB 828,000
Lot 187
Wang Xuetao
Flowers and Insects
Ink and color on paper
Mounted for framing
Various sizes (7)
Price realized:RMB 529,000
Lot 1186
Lin Yong, Su Hua
Flowers of Peace
Ink and color on paper
Mounted for framing
120×243 cm
Price realized:RMB 345,000
Jade, Porcelain and Works of Art
More than 1,800 lots in the jade, porcelain and works of art sector went under the hammer across five sessions, generating gross revenue worth 58,386,000 yuan, achieving a turnover rate of 92.4 percent.
"Though an increasing number of auctions have been held in the past few months, our sales volumes still increased slightly despite the fact that the number of lots for this quarterly auction is roughly the same with the last one’s,” said Liu Yang, general manager of the Porcelain and Works of Art Department of China Guardian Auctions.
Lot 2911
The 32nd year of the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty (1604)
A beige-glazed cloth-bag monk statue made by Jiang Yuanyu, produced by the Zhangzhou kiln
L 21
Price realized:RMB 2,070,000
Lot 2921
Qianglong period of the Qing Dynasty
A blue-and-white vase with entwined lotus pattern
H 37.5
Price realized:RMB 1,495,000
Lot 2852
Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty
A pair of fencai bowls with patterns of portrait and landscape
D 14.7
Price realized:RMB 1,150,000
Lot 2846
Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty
A white-glazed bowl with hidden cloud dragon pattern
D 16
Price realized:RMB 828,000
Lot 3614
Qianlong period of the Qing Court
A gilt bronze Buddha statue
H 13.5
Price realized:RMB 690,000
Lot 3252
Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty
A blue-and-white vase with patterns of deities from Chinese mythology
H 44.8 cm
Price realized:RMB 437,000
Rare Books, Rubbings and Manuscripts
A total of 537 lots from the two sessions of rare books, rubbings and manuscripts went under the hammer at The 57th China Guardian Quarterly Auctions and the total sales volume amounted to 7.11 million yuan, with the turnover rate averaging 82 percent.
"2020 is a special year. Because of COVID-19, all auctions were put on hold in the first half of the year. To respond to the challenge posed by the pandemic, we’ve put more emphasis on online auctions and so far we’ve completed seven online auctions, the Spring Auctions, and two Quarterly Auctions. The consistently high transaction rates of rare books, rubbings, and manuscripts, reflect our academic leadership and strong popularity in the industry,” remarked Song Hao, general manager of the Rare Books, Rubbing & Manuscripts Department of China Guardian Quarterly Auctions.
Lot 2513
Nanhua Scriptures
Annotated by Guo Xiang
Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty
Four volumes; Ink on paper
15.3×21.5 cm
Price realized:RMB 161,000
Lot 2600
Cao Tang Shi Yu (five)
Annotated by Yang Sheng’an
Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty
Four volumes; Ink on paper
14.5×20.5 cm
Price realized: RMB 149,500
Lot 2690
A stone rubbing of On My Mistakes written by Emperor Qianlong
A rubbing created by the Qing Imperial Household Department
One volume; Ink on paper
164×43.5 cm
Price realized: RMB 195,500
Lot 2265
Calligraphy in semi-cursive style by Li Hongzhang
Qing Dynasty
One scroll, ink on paper
Price realized: RMB 253,000
Lot 2202
Calligraphy in cursive style by QiaoYiqi
Ming Dynasty
One scroll, ink on paper
56×147.5 cm
Price realized: RMB 189,750