Chinese Calligraphy Scrolls Sell for $269,000 at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ March Asian Works of Art Sale, Following Upward Swi

Among top results of Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ March 26 Asian Works of Art auction was a Xing Tong, Wang Xizhis Shi Qi Tie calligraphy scrolls in cursive script, which sold for $269,000 following competitive bidding on the phone and in the room. It was sold from the collection of Ms. Yuan Jiaying and Mr. Li Guoyuan, which opened the sale with 125 Chinese and Japanese paintings.

Lot 76, Xing Tong, (1551-1612), Wang Xizhi's Shi Qi Tie Calligraphy in Cursive Script; Sold for $60,000-$80,000

The March sale at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers reflects continued momentum in the Asian art market following a strong 2017. Collectors from mainland China, Taiwan, Canada, the U.S. West Coast and the United Kingdom dominated participation in the sale and created competition for top lots, which included paintings, porcelain and jade, many selling above high estimates.

Lot 80, Attributed to Shen Quan (Shen Nanping), (1682-1760), Cranes and Deer; Sold for $84,700

In addition to the Xing Tong script, numerous items from the collection of Ms. Yuan Jiaying and Mr. Li Guoyuan were among top lots of the sale, including Cranes and Deer, ink on paper, attributed to Shen Quan. It sold for $87,500 against a presale estimate of $30,000 – 50,000 to a collector in Asia.

After intense bidding in the room and on the phone with bidders from mainland China and abroad, a carved white jade ruyi scepter sold for $197,000 against a presale estimate of $6,000 – 8,000. Other jade objects exceeded expectations such as a pale celadon jade bowl that sold for $55,000 against a presale estimate of $5,000 – 7,000; a carved celadon jade ruyi scepter that sold for $32,500 against an estimate of $4,000 – 6,000; and a carved white jade figure of a horse that sold for $47,500.

Lot 256, A Gilt and Robin's Egg Glazed Porcelain Figure of a Bodhisattva; Sold for $66,550

Three porcelain objects were among the top lots of the sale, such as a gilt and robins egg glazed porcelain figure of a bodhisattva, featured on the cover, that sold for $68,750 against a presale estimate of $25,000 – 30,000. Bidding was driven up by online and phone bidders. A large blanc-de-chine porcelain standing figure of Buddha Shakyamuni easily surpassed the presale estimate of $3,000 – 5,000 with many bidders competing over the phone. It sold for $37,500. A pair of wucai porcelain dragon and phoenix bowls also outperformed a presale estimate of $8,000 – 12,000 and sold for $32,500.

Lot 539, A Chinese Cloisonne Enamel Inset Yellow Lacquered Three-Fold Floor Screen; Sold for $42,840

Late in the sale, a Chinese cloisonne enamel inset yellow lacquered three-fold floor screen sold for $42,500 against a presale estimate of $500-700 after bidding on the phone and in the room. 

The competitive global bidding led to many lots selling well over estimates to global buyers bidding online, on the phone and in Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ Chicago saleroom. Over 250 bidders participated throughout the sale on bidding platforms LHLive and Bidsquare. Additional results can be found at lesliehindman.com. The Asian Works of Arts department is currently seeking consignments for its next sale, June 25, 2018. They can be reached at 312.280.1212.