Christie’s New York | Asian Art Week in September: Highlights and Schedule

This September, Asia Week New York will be held across major international auction houses.

Christie’s will have nine sales of fine arts – five live auctions and four online auctions. Some of which are part of distinguished collections such as John C. and Susan L. Huntington, Romi Lamba and David Drabkin. In addition, artworks such as ceramics, Buddhist sculptures, paintings and Japanese and Korean art are included.

Key highlights include a 14th century Chinese octagonal vase, a 15th to 16th century Tibetan mandala painting and Indian modern painter, Francis Newton Souza’s painting from the late 20th century.

Here is an overview of the sales, together with the highlight lots:


Live Auctions:

Japanese and Korean Art

A traditional sale during Asia Week New York, it offers a diverse Japanese and Korean works – including samurai arms and armours, as well as Japanese swords from the Kaisendo Museum collection. 

Leading the sale is a 12th century Korean celadon glazed stoneware ewer. Alongside this work, there is a 16th to 17th century katana with legendary swordsman Nagasone Okisato Nyudo's name engraved on it, and an 18th to 19th century Japanese armour. 


The John C. and Susan L. Huntington Collection

In this sale, Himalayan and South Asian artworks from two prominent Buddhist and Asian art history scholars – John and Susan Huntington – are featured.

Together, the American couple contributed to these scholarly fields over 40 years as professors at the Ohio State University. The most expensive lots are two Tibetan works – a 15th to 16th century mandala painting, as well as a gilt bronze Vajrakilaya and consort figure.


Centering the Figure: South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art from the Collection of Romi Lamba

Born in India and studied in the United States, Lamba moved to Hong Kong during the 1990s. Assembled over 30 years, his collection offers works by 20th century artists hailing from the South Asian subcontinent.

In this sale, works by modern and contemporary masters such as Arpita Singh and Maqbool Fida Husain are featured. Many paintings are auctioned for the first time and largely unseen in public. 


South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art

Another traditional sale during Asia Art Week is South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art. Starring oeuvres from the 20th and 21st century, highlight includes Untitled (Citadel with Flag) – a landscape painting by prominent Indian artist, Francis Newton Souza. 


Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art

This sale comprises of works from eminent private collections – such as J. M. Hu Zande Lou.

J. M. Hu, the master of the Zande Lou (the Studio of Temporary Enjoyment), was best known for his ceramics collection from the Imperial kilns during the 14th to 20th centuries. Alongside this collection, T. Eugene Worrell's collection of Chinese jade sculptures, David Drabkin's Asian art collection and Ehime Bunkakan's collection of Chinese ceramics. 

Highlights include an early 18th century large gilt decorated celadon glazed vase, a 14th century molded and biscuit-reserved longquan celadon octagonal vase, and a pair of 17th to 18th century huanghuali horseshoe back armchairs.


Celadon Glazed Stoneware Ewer 

Created during Goryeo dynasty (12th century)
Sale: Japanese and Korean Art 
Estimate: US$130,000 – 160,000


Nagasone Katana 

Signed Nagasone Okisato Nyudo
Edo period (16th-17th century)
Sale: Japanese and Korean Art 
Estimate: US$50,000 – 70,000 


Green Laced Gamaido Gusoku (Armour)

Edo period (18th-19th century)
Sale: Japanese and Korean Art
Estimate: US$30,000 – 40,000



Painting of a Shat Chakravati Mandala | Central Tibet

Created during 15th-16th century
Sale: The John C. and Susan L. Huntington Collection
Estimate: US$400,000 – 600,000


Gilt Bronze Figure of Vajrakilaya and Consort | Tibet

Sale: The John C. and Susan L. Huntington Collection
Estimate: US$200,000 – 300,000


Arpita Singh | A Woman with Another Woman

Sale: Centering the Figure: South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art from the Collection of Romi Lamba
Estimate: US$300,000 – 500,000


Francis Newton Souza | Untitled (Citadel with Flag)

Sale: South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art
Estimate: US$450,000 – 600,000





Large Gilt Decorated Celadon Glazed Vase, Ganlanping

Six-character seal mark in underglaze blue and of the Yongzheng period (1723-1735)
Sale: Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art
Estimate: US$600,000 – 800,000




Molded and Biscuit Reserved Longquan Celadon Octagonal Vase, Meiping

Created during 14th century
Sale: Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art
Estimate: US$600,000 – 800,000




Pair of Huanghuali Horseshoe Back Armchairs

Created during 17th-18th century
Sale: Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art
Estimate: US$200,000 – 250,000


Online Sales:

Japanese and Korean Art Online

In this season, this traditional online sale offers a diverse range of oeuvres – such as Japanese woodblock prints by Kasane Hasui and Utigawa Hiroshige, as well as a 19th century Korean two-tier chest. With most lots estimated at around US$10,000 dollars, this sale is suitable for new art collectors. 


Indian and Himalayan Art Online featuring The John C. and Susan L. Huntington Collection (Online Sale)

Complementing the live auction, this sale also focuses on Buddhist art. Heading the sale is a 12th century Indian bronze figure of Namasanghiti Manjushri.


Thoughts Across the Water: Asian Art from the David Drabkin Collection (Online Sale)

An American laywer and avid art collector, Drabkin first went to India to study before staying in Hong Kong and Japan. During his travels, he took a fond interest of Asian art and collected a wide range of oeuvres  mainly comprising of Chinese works of art, Chinese paintings and Japanese art.  

Highlights include a 16th century monumental landscape attributed to Wang Shichang, a Jichimu corner leg table and Kano School screens. The sale's most valuable lot is a Chinese painting attributed to 13th century painter, Qian Xuan. 


Art of China Online

This online sale ranges from ceramics and jades to textiles and landscape paintings. A pair of 19th to 20th century yellow and purple floral patterned Imperial famille rose vases are the sale's highlights. 


Utagawa Hiroshige | Yoshiwara Hidari Fuji (Yoshiwara: Mount Fuji on the Left), Colour woodblock print

Sale: Japanese and Korean Art Online
Estimate: US$1,000 – 2,000


Kawase Hasui | Kishu Toro 

Sale: Japanese and Korean Art Online 
Estimate: US$1,000 2,000


Silver and Copper Inlaid Bronze Figure of Namasanghiti Manjushri | India

Created during Pala period (12th century)
Sale: Indian and Himalayan Art Online featuring The John C. and Susan L. Huntington Collection (Online Sale)
Estimate: US$80,000 – 120,000


Attributed to Qian Xuan | Basket of Flowers 

Created during 15th-16th century 
Sale: Thoughts Across the Water: Asian Art from the David Drabkin Collection (Online Sale)
Estimate: US$25,000 35,000 



Pair of Dayazhai Grisaille-Decorated Yellow Ground and Famille Rose Purple Ground Pastel Floral Patterned Garlic Head Vase 

Created during late Qing dynasty – Republic period (circa 19th-20th century)
Sale: Art of China Online
Estimate: US$7,000 – 9,000