Breeze passes through thelotus pond whispering while green willows drape the eaves, cicadasgive out their first chirping while pomegranate flowers are wavering outside the windows. In such hot early summer days, the passion of the crowd at Xiling Auction havealready been aroused again.
After 3 days of over 40 hours of acute competition, Xiling Yinshe 2018 Spring Auction concluded with tremendous success. The auction achieved RMB 1.15 billion in total sales and 83.5% in sale rate with 5,016 lots sold in33 sales, amid which Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy by Top Members of Xiling Yinshe and Vintage Kweichow Moutai from Mingyangxuan all succeeded as white-glove sales with nine other sales’ sale rate exceeding 90%.
▲Viewing of Xiling Yinshe 2018 Spring Auction
▲Viewing of Xiling Yinshe 2018 Spring Auction
Highlights in Xiling Yinshe 2018 Spring Auction
Record –breaking lots
Kai Bao Cang of Northern Song Dynasty and Pu Ning Cang Kai Ji of Yuan Dynasty were sold at RMB 2.76 million, a record price for a single page of a book published in Song Dynasty.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Autograph Music Manuscript for Fugue in C Minor broke the record of its kind, hammered at RMB 3.0475 million.Vintage Kweichow Moutai from Mingyangxuan emerged as the most successful Chinese liquor sale ever in the world, achievinga total sale of RMB 84.88 million.
White-glove sales
Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy by Top Members of Xiling Yinshe: 100% sale rate & RMB 112 million salesVintage Kweichow Moutai from Mingyangxuan: 100% sale rate & RMB 84.88 million sales
High sale rate
Six Senses of Childhood: Special Sale of Letters and Comics: 94.41%Guan Liang’s Family Collection: Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy by and Dedicated to Guan Liang: 94.83%
Modern and Contemporary Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy: I 92.73%
Chinese Fan Paintings: 91.01%
Modern and Contemporary Oil Paintings and Sculpture: 91.96%
Important Chinese Bronzes: 90.24%
Everlasting Glory·Refined Articles in the Study: 91.47%
Stand-out sale of Chinese paintings and calligraphy
There are seven sales of Chinese paintings and calligraphy, Modern and Contemporary Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy I, Modern and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy II, Classical Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy, Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy by Top Members of Xiling Yinshe, Guan Liang’s Family Collection: Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy by and Dedicated to Guan Liang, Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy by Shanghai Painting School and Chinese Fan Paintings, resulting in a total turnover over RMB 400 million with 5 lots sold over RMB 10 million.
▲Xiling Yinshe 2018 Spring Auction
Qi Baishi Blooming Flowers
Starting Price: RMB 12 million Sale Price: RMB 32.2 million
▲Xiling Yinshe 2018 Spring Auction
Huang Binhong Landscape of Mount Emei
Starting Price: RMB 12 million Sale Price: RMB 23 million
▲Xiling Yinshe 2018 Spring Auction
Wang Duo Calligraphy in Cursive Script
Starting Price: RMB 6 million Sale Price: RMB 12.65 million
The sale of Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy by Top Members of Xiling Yinshe witnessed a white-glove achievement and so do the session ofGuan Liang’s opera figure paintings. Most of the sales were concluded at around 90% with frequent appearance of high overages, among which the Blooming Flowers by Qi Baishi was bid ten times with the price rocketing from RMB 12 million to RMB 32.2 million. The lot Landscape of Mount Emei, a rare masterpiece painted by Huang Binhong for as long asalmost ten years, was eventually sold at RMB 23 million.
Charms of oil paintings
▲Xiling Yinshe 2018 Spring Auction
Xu Beihong Yang Zhongzi’s Family Portrait
Starting Price: RMB 3.5 million Sale Price: RMB 19.32 million
The following large-size oil painting A Nude Woman painted by Wu Zuoren in his early days in Europe and brought to homeland by the collector Sun Paicang, who was known as the ‘first person practicing western painting in eastern style’, was eye-catching, and ultimately sold at RMB 86.25 million. The oil painting sale ended up with an impressive91.96% sale rate and around RMB 85.31 million in turnover.
▲Xiling Yinshe 2018 Spring Auction
Wu Zuoren A Nude Woman
Starting Price: RMB 5.8 million Sale Price: RMB 86.25 million
Keep a Childlike Heart: Six senses of Childhood
Condensed with the memories of one, evenmore generations, Important Chinese and International Manuscripts, Six Senses of Childhood: Special Sale of Letters and Comics and Photographs and Films kicked off successively and saw a strong appetite for nostalgia from the market.
▲Xiling Yinshe 2018 Spring Auction
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Autograph Music Manuscript for Figure in C Minor
Starting Price: RMB 1.8 million Sale Price: RMB 3.0475 million
▲Xiling Yinshe 2018 Spring Auction
Chen Duxiu, Tao Xingzhi, Ma Xiangbo, Ma Junwu, etc. Album of Inscriptions on Paintings and Calligraphy
Starting Price: RMB 500,000 Sale Price: RMB 1.127 million
In the sale of Important Chinese and International Manuscripts, an album of inscriptions on paintings and calligraphy dedicated to the radio expert Cao Zhongyuan by Chen Duxiu, Tao Xingzhi, Ma Xiangbo, Master Tai Xu, Ouyang Yuqian, Li Zongren, Zhang Chongren and so on concluded a deal of RMB 1.127 million. It is rarely known thatin the last scene of the movie, the protagonist sent out the intelligence is just based on the story of Cao Zhongyuan. The Six Senses of Childhood: Special Sale of Letters and Comics sale which had attracted a wide attention before the auction witnessed a precious autograph music manuscript for figure in C minor was sold at RMB 3.0475 million, making another record of its kind domestically.
▲ Xiling Yinshe 2018 Spring Auction
Dong Dayou Important Photographs and Relevant Literatures about the Great Shanghai Project and His Life
Starting Price: RMB 800,000 Sale Price: RMB 1.3225 million
Dong Dayou’s important photographs and relevant literatures about the Great Shanghai Project and his life, the lot on the cover of the catalogue of Photographs and Films, finally made a marvelous achievement of RMB 1.3225 million in turnover, a definite salute to those who made prominent contributions to our urban design and construction courses.
Honor-winning ‘Inkstones’: Another remarkable achievement for masters’ inkstones
Since its debut in 2007, it has
been held by Xiling Auction consecutively with great outcomes, surprising many collectors. This year, the sale remains no disappointing as a
fine inkstone, Yu Zhou Yan, inscribed by Wu Changshuo, andcollected
by Shen Shiyou and illustrated in Shen
Shi Yan Lin published in Republic of China, which had enjoyed great
popularity before the auction, started its bidding at RMB 1.8 million and was sold
at RMB 4.6 million.
A Fine Inkstone Inscribed by Wu Changshuo and Collected by Shen Shiyou
Starting Price: RMB 1.8 million Sale Price: RMB 4.6 million
Meanwhile, in thesale of Study Series·Fine Inkstones and Inksticks and Study Series · Seal Cuttings by Modern and Contemporary Chinese Masters, lots concerning the first President of Xiling Society of Seal Arts Wu Changshuo were all sold at high prices, amid which a rare large Shoushanstone ‘phoenix’ seal engraved by Wu Changshuo with his name and inscription ‘Wu Jun Qing Xin Yin Da Li Chang Shou’, appearing in many literatures as his favorite, ended up at RMB 2.3575 million.
▲ Xiling Yinshe 2018 Spring Auction
Qing Dynasty A Shoushan Stone ‘Phoenix’ Seal Engraved by Wu Changshuo for His Own Private Use
Starting Price: RMB 800,000 Sale Price: RMB 2.3575 million
In addition, the sale of Tianhuang Stone Carvings and Seal Collection from Huai'anju also achieves a good accomplishment with its two most prominentTianhuang inkstones of Qing Dynasty sold at RMB 3.795 million. The entertaining Tianhuang ‘arhat’ inkstone with the top made by Yang Yuxuan for Wang Peng’s private use started at RMB 500,000 and ended at RMB 1.495 million. The deal of a pagoda-shaped jade seal for the Emperor Zhao Yun’s private use wasalso concluded at a remarkableprice of RMB 2.53 million.
▲Xiling Yinshe 2018 Spring Auction
Qing Dynasty Two Tianhuang Stone Seals
Starting Price: RMB 2 million Sale Price: RMB 3.795 million
▲ Xiling Yinshe 2018 Spring Auction
Qing Dynasty A Tianhuang Stone ‘Arhat’ Seal for Wang Shu’s Private Use, with the Finial by Yang Yuxuan
Starting Price: RMB 500,000 Sale Price: RMB 1.495 million
Moutai topping the list: The China liquor refreshing a sale record
Vintage Kweichow Moutai from Mingyangxuan, which had attracted attentions from collectors and media alike before the auction refreshed its sale record again, living up to people’s expectation. As the last lot hammered, the total turnover of the whole sale was piled to RMB 84.88 million with a sale rate of 100%, not only refreshing the Chinese liquor sale record in the world but also making it the largest-scale Moutai sale of a full collection of its kind with the longest time span. The deal of Lay Mau made in the 1940s which wasscarcely seen in the market was finally clinched at RMB 1.978 million, and so were the Moutai with iron caps released inten years alone, which made the bidders crazy for them.
▲Viewing of Vintage Kweichow Moutai from Mingyangxuan
▲Xiling Yinshe 2018 Spring Auction
‘Lai Mau’ Made in the 1940s (The Predecessor of Moutai)
Starting Price: RMB 800,000 Sale Price: RMB 1.978 million
Keyword to ceramics
Among the fine Chinese ceramics of different dynasties presented one after another, the largest ever famille-rose ‘lantern’ vase with landscape pattern painted by Wang Yeting, who is a scholar in Jingdezhen, was sold at RMB 2.2425 million after several rounds of biddings. The fine porcelain works from Song Dynasty also evoked tides of biddings. Amid them, a rare ‘Jian’ tenmoku tea bowl from Northern Song Dynasty attracted the most spotlights throughout dozens of rounds of biddings, and aroused again people’s attentions and enthusiasms to the ‘Jian’ tea bowls of Song Dynasty with its incredible concluding price of RMB 1.38 million. Additionally, a ‘Yue’jar and cover with peony pattern previously collected by An Siyuan started its bidding at RMB 400,000 and ended at RMB 2.76 million. As a representative work from Yue Kiln in South China, it really deserved to be a blockbuster. On the other hand, the white-glazed ceramics from North China also prove their values in the sale. A square tray with floral pattern and ‘ying’ mark from Tang Dynasty previously collected by Wu Jiyuan and a ‘ding’ white-glazed ewer from Northern Song Dynasty were sold at RMB 977,500 and RMB 1.38 million respectively.
▲Xiing Yinshe 2018 Spring Auction
A Famille Rose ‘Lantern’ Vase with Landscape Pattern Painted by Wang Yeting in 1940
Starting Price: RMB 1.5 million Sale Price: RMB 2.2425 million
Buddhism-Related Sale: Unexpected Popularity of Religous Lots
Fine Ink Rubbing and Rare and Fine Ancient Books are featured by frequent occurrence of lots
with high overages, including Kai Bao Cang of Northern Song Dynasty, Pu Ning Cang Kan Ji of Yuan Dynasty illustrated in Research on Previous Tibetan Sutras collected by Ye Gongchuo, the lot on the back cover of rare and fine ancient book catalogue, started from RMB 60,000 and was sold at RMB 2.76 million with direct increments ranging from RMB 100,000 to RMB 200,000 from the beginning, making a record for a single page of a book published in Song Dynasty. Such exciting biddings proved that its value was well recognized by the collectors. Portrait of Buddha Painted by Monk Zhiguo and Sutras collected by Gao Youming and inscribed by Zhou Bomin. etc. started from RMB 300,000 and was sold at RMB 5.52 million, twenty times the starting price after continuous biddings.
▲2018 Xiling Spring Auction
Kai Bao Cang of Northern Song Dynasty, Pu Ning Cang Kan Ji of Yuan Dynasty Illustrated in Research on Previous Tibetan Sutras by Ye Gongchuo
Starting Price: RMB 60,000 Sale Price: RMB 2.76 million
▲2018 Xiling Spring Auction
Portrait of Buddha Painted by Monk Zhiguo and Sutras Collected by Gao Youming and Inscribed by Zhou Bomin. etc.
Starting Price: RMB 300,000 Sale Price: RMB 5.52 million
Besides, the rubbing of Qian Qin Guang Wu Jiang Jun Bei inscribed by Zhu Leshan, Sha Menghai, Yu Rentian, Wu Fuzhi, etc. started from RMB 60,000 and was sold at RMB 1.265 million with a high overage after continuous increments from buyers present at the saleroom and entrusting buyers.
▲2018 Xiling Spring Auction
Rubbing of Qian Qin Guang Wu Jiang Jun Bei Inscribed by Zhu Leshan, Sha Menghai, Yu Rentian, Wu Fuzhi, etc.
Starting Price: RMB 60,000 Sale Price: RMB 1.265 million
With the market of Buddhist figures still under adjustment, the sale of Elegant and Magnificent · Chinese Buddhist Art concluded favorably with great outcomes. A sizable and well-crafted bronze figure of Avalokitesvara from Yuan/Ming Dynasty started from RMB 3.5 million and was sold at RMB 9.2 million after competitive bidding while a bronze ‘manger’ censer made by Yan Dishi from Kangxi period, Qing Dynasty was sold at RMB 3.105 million with hammer price several times the starting price. The sale provides the collectors with a bellwether of the Buddhist art market, picks more positive signals to serves as a booster for the whole market.
▲2018 Xiling Spring Auction
Yuan/Ming Dynasty A Bronze Figure of Avalokitesvara
Starting Price: RMB 3.5 million Sale Price: RMB 9.2 million
▲2018 Xiling Spring Auction
Qing Dynasty A Bronze ‘Manger’ Censer Made by Yan Dishi
Starts Price: RMB 1.2 million Sale Price: RMB 3.105 million
Promising Coin Sale: Market on the Steady Rise
The Chinese paper money and coin sale deserves to be elaborated, with frequent appearances of star lots and rising concluded prices, being a new focus on the market. Among them, two large entertaining coins previously collected by Mr. Zheng Yiwei, an American entertaining coin collector, started from RMB 30,000 and were sold at RMB 368,000, which was ten-plus times the starting price after dozens of increments. Likewise, an entertaining coin from Liao Dynasty started from RMB 9,000 and was sold at RMB 218,500.
▲2018 Xiling Spring Auction
Southern Song Dynasty A Twenty-Tael Gold Sycee
Starting Price: RMB 630,000 Sale Price: RMB 724,500
Apart from rare ancient coin, a collection of coins from Southern Song Dynasty, including all existing types of large gold sycees: a twenty-five-tael gold sycee with ‘Xiang Wu Lang’ mark was sold at RMB 1.725 million; a twenty-tael gold sycee from Tingzhou in Southern Song Dynasty was sold at RMB 724,500; a ten-tael gold sycee with ‘Cheng Er Lang’ mark was sold at RMB 310,500.
Unrivaled Originality Splendid Items Abound in Multiple Sales
The sale results were outstanding across other categories, particularly three study series sales in this spring auction. In the Study Series·Refined Articles in the Study (I), a white jade ewer with ripple, dragon and cloud patterns from Qianlong Period, Qing Dynasty, collected by Prince Kung, with an auction record from American Art Gallery, New York, back in 1913, was sold at RMB 920,000 after its century-long circulation among overseas collectors.
▲2018 Xiling Spring Auction
Qianlong Period, Qing Dynasty A White Jade Ewer with Ripple, Dragon and Cloud Patterns, Collected by Prince Kung
Starting Price: RMB 480,000 Sale Price: RMB 920,000
A zitan stand from Qianlong Period, Qing Dynasty, collected by Zhu Yifan, which is made of fine material in a simple but elegant shape, a typical court style of Qing Dynasty with moderate passion flower pattern, was sold at RMB 1.5525 million. Meanwhile, as the most featured sale among its similar kinds and having been widely recognized by collectors, Everlasting Glory · Refined Articles in the Study was really impressive. Its front cover item, an eaglewood brushpot with landscape pattern from early Qing Dynasty, a plantain-leaf-style guqin made by Zhang Shunxiu from Chongzhen period, Ming Dynasty and a fine gilt-bronze censer with dragon pattern in high relief and ‘Wu Ying Dian’ mark were sold at RMB 1.725 million, RMB 2.07 million and RMB 1.38 million respectively, again evidencing how popular the fine scholar’s articles with provenance were in south China.
▲2018 Xiling Spring Auction
Jiaqing Period, Qing Dynasty A Purple Clay Teapot Made by Yang Pengnian and engraved by Chen Mansheng, with ‘A Man Tuo Shi’ Mark
Starting Price: RMB 3.4 million Sale Price: RMB 4.14 million
In the Chinese Zisha Wares, Tea Sets and Fine Tea, Zisha Wares from literati still enjoy extensive popularity. Xiling Auction keeps introducing items with ‘Man Sheng’ marks, e.g., two rare teapots, a purple clay teapot made by Yang Pengnian and engraved by Chen Mansheng, with ‘A Man Tuo Shi’ mark, which was sold at RMB 4.14 million and a purple clay teapot made by Yang Pengnian and engraved by Chen Mansheng, with ‘A Man Tuo Shi’ mark, which was sold at RMB 3.105 million.
▲2018 Xiling Spring Auction
Qianlong Period, Qing Dynasty An Openwork White Jade Tripod Censer with Lion Finial
Starting Price: RMB 3.5 million Sale Price: RMB 6.095 million
There are three jade-related sales, including the First Ancient Jade Art sale, which contributes a total amount of RMB 23.32 million. Among all lots, the front cover item, an openwork white jade tripod censer with lion finial from Qianlong Period, Qing Dynasty, was sold at RMB 6.095 million from a starting price of RMB 3.5 million. In the Jade Carvings by Contemporary Masters, a white jade figure of ‘Guan Yin’ by Wang Yibu was sold at RMB 2.358 million while a russet rough hetian seed jade was sold at RMB 1.38 million in the sale.
▲2018 Xiling Spring Auction
Tang Yongli Original Work of Illustrations of Collection of Traditional Chinese Cultural Tales
Starting Price: RMB 1.2 million Sale Price: RMB 2.185 million
In the Comic, Illustrations & Cartoons by Chinese Masters, the Five-Starred Red Flag Waving on Xisha Islands by Lu Yanshao was sold at RMB 1.035 million while original work of illustrations of Collection of Traditional Chinese Cultural Tales concluded at RMB 2.185 million.
▲2018 Xiling Spring Auction
A Fancy Pink Diamond Ring Weighing 12.45 Carats, VS2
Sale Price: RMB 20.93 million
In the Oriental Beauty: Magnificent Jewelry and Jadeite Jewelry, a fancy pink diamond ring weighing 12.45 carats, was sold at RMB 20.93 million while a pair of fine natural icy jadeite
Bangles was sold at RMB 14.375 million, other jadeite lots achieving high prices as well.
Prepared for Future with Original Faith and Mutual Support
Xiling Yinshe 2018 Spring Auction witnessed rising popularity, made new sales records and yielded favorable results. Judging from the heated bidding process, the Chinese art market is still influential and displays strong purchasing power. More new collectors bring more confidence to the auction houses. The impassioned auction showcases proves again that the art market is still booming as vibrant as flowers in full blossom.
