Raj S. RangarajanThe temperature in New York was cool, it was not yet spring, and the uncertain economy did nothing to lift the mood of collectors and art lovers. Gallery owners and aficionados with a feel for the art market were
enthusiastic about this year’s Asia Week auctions held by Christie’s and Sotheby’s between March 17 and 20.
Kitagawa Utamaro, Ehon Komachi-biki (Picture book: Pulling Komachi), New Year 1802.
Compared to last year’s total of US$126.4 million and US$129.3 million in 2007 for Asia-centric art-oriented lots, this year’s total of merely US$43.62 million was a sign of the times. On the bidding floors, while some items with impeccable provenances sold well investors and collectors were biding their time, perhaps waiting for the fall sale in September. (All figures indicated are with Buyer’s premiums.)
At Christie’s, An Important and Very Rare Blue and White Basin from the Yongle Period (1403-1425) that sold for US$2.32 million was among the highlights at the Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art category that included Jades from the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. The 10-1/8 in. (25.6 cm.) diameter cloth box sold at three times the high estimate of US$600,000. It is well potted with deep, rounded sides, fluidly painted in the center with interior showing leafy scrolling stems bearing three lingzhi heads. Ninety-one percent of the lot that fetched US$18.32 million was sold by value. Also, A Very Rare and Important Doucai Petal-Lobed Vase, Zun, Yongzheng Period (1723-1735) sold at 12 times the high estimate of US$150,000. An Asian trade buyer picked it up for US$1.81 million. The globular body, trumpet-form neck and spreading pedestal foot which is raised on a circular foot ring molded with thirty-two lobes divided into eight vertical sections by narrow ribs (10-1/8 in. or 25.9 cm. high).
Tina Zonars, International Director of Chinese Works of Art and Joe-Hynn Yang, Head of Department, Chinese Works of Art said, “international participation was a testament to the prestige of the private collections offered including those from the Estate of Walter Hochstadter, a North American Chinese Family Collection and Harvard Art Museum.”
At Sotheby’s sale of Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Specialist and Head of Sotheby’s Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Sales, North America, Dr. Caroline Schulten, was “thrilled to see such strong competition for 18th century Imperial mark and period porcelain” as evidenced with the sale of “The Conquests of the Emperor Qianlong,” a set of sixteen engravings after Castiglione et al. and eighteen panels of Calligraphy, 1769-74 – that sold at $164,500 at four times the high estimate. Each engraving is approximately 20-3/4 x 35-1/2 in. (52.7 x 90.2 cm.). A Fine and Rare Pair of ‘Famille-Rose’ ‘Eight Daoist Immortal’ Jars and Covers, Qianlong Iron-red Seal Marks and Period (height 10-1/4 in., or 26 cm.) was sold at $632,500 at 1.5 times the high estimate.
The catalogue explains that the jars depict the Eight Daoist Immortals as they cross the rough sea after attending the Peach Festival of the Queen Mother of the West. Rather than traveling by their clouds, they combined their powers to sail pass the tempest. The proverb is a lesson on how individual strengths and gifts can be used to tackle a common obstacle.
With provenances always a key factor it was not surprising that at Christie’s sale of Fine Chinese Art from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections totaled US$10.87 million. Dr. Sackler, who died in 1987 was a psychiatrist and philanthropist. A Very Rare and Important Painted White Marble Buddhist Votive Stele, Northern Qi Dynasty (550-577) which is 66-7/8 in. (169.8 cm.) high sold at US$1.73 million, thrice the high estimate. A set of four hanging scrolls (ink on satin) of Birds and Ducks by artist Bada Shanren (Zhu Da: 1626-1705) was bought at $1.20 million. Each scroll is 81-7/8 x 21-5/8 in. (208 x 55 cm.) However, a Rare Yellow and Pale Russet Jade Archaistic Hinged Twin, Bi (Qing Dynasty: 1644-1911), 9½ in. (24.2 cm.) long sold for $422,500, a phenomenal 28 times the high estimate of US$15,000.
Theow H. Tow, Deputy Chairman, Christie’s Americas and Asia said: “The results have proved that rare and exceptional works with excellent provenance continue to generate huge interest and demand from collectors throughout the world. Clients responded confidently to the museum-quality pieces of rare bronzes, jades, and paintings with 99 percent sold by lot and value.” Occasionally, abstract art seems to sell better than figurative art though it is not fair to compare.
Rise of Indian Painting
At Christie’s sale on March 19, an Untitled, ’65 piece by Indian artist Vasudeo Gaitonde (1924-2001) sold for US$482,500. Abstractions always succeed in making one think. Gaitonde has always motivated one to stretch one’s imagination: is it a boat or the moon? Is it intrigue or uncertainty? Or is it plain confusion? Commenting on the “strong results,” Hugo Weihe, International Director and Head of Indian and Southeast Asian Art, said, “buyers continue to be selective and to focus on quality for mid-level price ranges.”
Considering that he is in his 90’s, artist M.F. Husain continues to be the endurance runner in contemporary Indian paintings with many of his oils yet selling at loftier prices than high estimates. This was noticed at Sotheby’s in the Indian & Southeast Asian Art category with Husain’s Untitled (Two Women) (painted in mid-70s) that was acquired for US$374,500. Also performing well was F.N. Souza’s oil-on-board, Untitled, 1954 selling for $302,500 and Akbar Padamsee’s Untitled (Nude), 1960 which was sold at $242,500.
Sales on the Indian and Southeast Asian Art series at Christie’s totaled $2.16 million and the top lot was A Gray Schist figure of a Bodhisattva, Gandhara, 2nd/3rd century that sold at $US122,500. This elegant figure is deeply carved, is wearing necklaces, his armlet concealed beneath the folds on his upper arm, his face with crisply outlined features and a benign expression (39 in. or 100.2 cm high). The sale of the Star Collection from India to Indonesia totaled US$883,250, and the top lot was a Gilt Copper Figure of Padmapani, Nepal, 14th century (10-1/2 in. or 26.5 cm high) that sold at US$182,500. It is a bronze from the Malla period (late 13th/early 14th century).
In the Japanese art category that totaled US$1.74 million, top lot was an album of twelve erotic illustrations by Japanese artist Kitagawa Utamaro (1754-1806) that was bought by an anonymous buyer for US$242,500. Title was Picture Book: Pulling Komachi (each sheet, 25.2 x 37.6 cm.), New Year 1802 that Christie’s catalogue explains as Komachi-biki – that derives from Komatsu-biki – a New Year ritual at the Heian court of Komachi’s time that involved “pulling up” (hiki) of young pines (komatsu). “Pulling Komachi” means to grab hold of a beauty, embrace her and make love to her.
Kanagawa oki nami ura (In the well of the great wave off Kanagawa) by artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) sold at US$68,500 at more than three times the high estimate of US$20,000. This was part of a series Fugaku sanjurokkei (The thirty-six views of Mount Fuji). The only Korean piece in the top ten was A White Porcelain Brush Rest from the Joseon Dynasty (19th century), which was purchased for US$88,900. It is modeled on the Diamond Mountains known in Korea as the Geumgang mountains that has a lustrous clear glaze with blue flecks.
Zara Porter Hill, Director, Head of Sotheby’s Indian & Southeast Asian department in New York said, “it was encouraging that 100 percent of the top ten lots were bought by, or for, established collectors, highlighting the strength at the top end of the market.” Case in point: at this Indian & Southeast Asian Art sale, Scenes from the life of Buddha Shakyamuni Stone, Eastern India, Pala Period, 12th century (height 7-1/2 in or 19 cm.) was bought by an American buyer for $98,500 at five times the high estimate of US$18,000.
(A New York based writer, Raj S. Rangarajan covers trend stories on art and reviews films, books for media based in New York, Toronto, Seoul and India.)
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