The performance of Marchant: Nine Decades in Chinese Art Sale at Christie's New York was not as satisfactory as it was anticipated. A large Famille rose vase from the Qianlong period, carrying the highest estimate, was hammered down at the minimum estimate of US$300,000. The 2nd and the 3rd top lot were a peachbloom-glazed seal paste box and cover from the Kangxi period and a longquan celadon carved jar and cover of 14th Century.

The top lot at the sale was a 70.5cm-tall Famille rose vase from the Qianlong period, impressed with a six-character mark of “Da Qing Qianlong Nian Zhi” (made in Qianlong Period in Qing dynasty) in iron red at the base. The two large recessed panels show the scene from a14th-century novel "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" (Sanguo Yanyi) on one side and “Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove” on the other.

Estimated at US$300,000 – 500,000, the vase was hammered down at its minimum estimate of US$300,000. It was sold for US$372,500 with buyer's premium, enough to make it the most expensive lot at the sale.

The second one was a peachbloom-glazed seal paste box of the Kangxi period, with a six-character mark in underglaze blue. The peachbloom glazed appears to have been developed during the Kangxi period and is characterized by blushes of red against a soft pink base colour. The box was hammered down at US$130,000 and fetched US$162,500 with buyer’s premium.

The third one was a longquan celadon carved jar and cover from 14th Century, carved with a sinuous, energetic dragon striding through stylized clouds. The jar was hammered down at US$110,000 and sold for US$137,500 with buyer’s premium.

Top Lots

An Exceptional Rare And Large Famille Rose Vase. Qianlong Period.

Lot no.: 748
Height: 70.5cm
Estimate: US$ 300,000 - 500,000
Provenance:
Important Private Collection. France.
Estimate: US$300,000 - 500,000
Hammer price: US$300,000
Price realized: US$372,500

A Peachbloom-Glazed Seal Paste Box and Cover, Yinse He. Kangxi Six-Character Mark in Underglaze Blue and of the Period.

Lot no.: 742
Diameter: 7.3cm
Provenance:
Property from an Asian family collection; Christie’s Hong Kong, 31 October 2000, lot 867.
Estimate: US$50,000 - 70,000
Hammer Price: US$130,000
Price realized: US$162,500

A Rare Longquan Celadon Carved Jar and Cover. Yuan Dynasty, 14th Century.

Lot no.: 701
Diameter: 32.8cm
Provenance:
Important private collection, France.
Estimate: US$30,000 - 50,000
Hammer Price: US$110,000
Price realized: US$137,500

Auction Summary

Auction house: Christie’s New York
Sale: Marchant: Nine Decades in Chinese Art
Sale no.: 15797
Auction: 2017/9/14｜10am
Sale total: US$2,365,625
No. of lot: 51
Sold: 40
Unsold: 11
Average price for lot: US$59,140
Sell-through rate: 78%

(All prices realized have included buyer’s premium unless otherwise specified)