Christie’s Hong Kong started its spring sales on a strong note with a record-setting HK$1.04 billion Asian 20th Century and Contemporary Art evening sale, featuring top artists like Zao Wou-ki, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Yun Gee and Chenyifei etc. Of all 77 lots offered, 23 of them were sold for above HK$10m. The sale delivered a total of HK$1.04 billion, achieving the highest sale total for a single sale in the history of Christie's Hong Kong.
A major part of the sale total was contributed by Zao Wou-ki paintings, in which six of them made a combined total of HK$406m while one of them was passed. We made a summary of all seven Zao’s painting in our previous article, so we are going list out top lots by other artists.
Top five lots other than Zao wou-ki paintings
Chen Yifei. Beauties on Promenade.
Lot no.: 30
Created in: 1997
Size: 190 x 208cm
Provenance:
- China Guardian, 26 October 1997, Lot 1588
- Acquired from the above by the present owner
Estimate on request
Hammer price: HK$72,000,000
Price realised: HK$83,350,000
Buyer: A gentleman in the salesroom
Jean-Michel Basquiat. Untitled (Orange sports figure).
Lot no.: 60
Created in: 1982
Size: 152.4 x 122.5cm
Provenance:
- Annina Nosei Gallery, New York
- Anon. sale, Sotheby's New York, 16 February 1989, lot 346
- Private Collection, Paris
- Anon. sale, Christie’s London, 25 June 1997, lot 73
- Gagosian Gallery, New York
- Private Collection, New York
- Acquired from the above by the present owner in 2012
Estimate: HK$62,000,000 - $94,000,000
Hammer price: HK$63,000,000
Price realised: HK$73,225,000
Buyer: Client of Ada Ong, Christie’s Taipei
Yun Gee. Old Broadway in Winter.
Lot no.: 29
Created in: circa 1930s-1940s
Size: 121 x 101cm
Provenance:
- Anon. Sale, Christie's Hong Kong, 28 April 2002, Lot 148
- Acquired from the above by the previous owner
- Anon. Sale, Christie's Hong Kong, 30 November 2008, Lot 556
- Acquired from the above by the present owner
Estimate: HK$30,000,000 - $40,000,000
Hammer price: HK$50,000,000
Price realised: HK$58,600,000
Buyer: Tina Keng (image below), the owner of Tina Keng Gallery
Chu Teh Chun. No. 51 - Mille Vies se Cachent dans le Bois (A Thousand Lives Hiding in the Woods).
Lot no.: 26
Created in: 1960
Size: 120 x 100cm
Provenance:
- Private Collection, Asia
- The authenticity of the artwork has been confirmed by Fondation Chu Teh-Chun, Geneva
Estimate: HK$25,000,000 - $35,000,000
Hammer price: HK$24,000,000
Price realised: HK$28,900,000
Yayoi Kusama. No. F. C. H.
Lot no.: 39
Created in: 1960
Size: 76.2 x 66cm
Provenance:
- Paula Cooper Gallery, New York, USA
- Private Collection, New York, USA
- Senior and Shopmaker Gallery, New York, USA
- Acquired from the above, thence by decent to current owner
- This work is accompanied by a registration card issued by the artist's studio.
Estimate: HK$16,000,000 - $26,000,000
Hammer price: HK$22,000,000
Price realised: HK$26,500,000
Auction summary
Auction house: Christie’s Hong Kong
Sale: Asian 20th Century & Contemporary Art (Evening Sale) / Contemporaries: Voices from East and West (Evening Sale)
Lots offered: 77
Sold: 65
Unsold: 12
Sold by lot: 84%
Sale total: HK$1,040,390,000