New York was hit by blizzard, yet the spring sales still went well. The "Fujita" sale started at 7pm local time, and totaled over US$260m for Christie's at last, surpassing the amount of "The Collection of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth" part I & II sales (approx. US$99m), bringing good news to the auction house which is downsizing globally.

8 items were sold for over US$10m. Half of them are archaic bronzes, another half are "Shiqu Baoji" paintings. The top lot is a 13th century handscroll, Chen Rong’s “Six Dragons”,with a low estimate of US$1.2m, sold for US$49m Among the 4 bronzes, the fanglei fetched the highest price of US$37m. There are 31 lots at this sale, only 2 of them were unsold at last, the 94% selling rate is undoubtedly satisfying.

"Important Chinese Art from The Fujita Museum" is the first auction at Christie's New York which used the High Value Lot Paddle (HVLP). The minimum deposit is US$2m, interested bidders also have to provide fiancial reference of assets which worth at least US$5m. Yet, more than 200 interested bidders registered for this sale, including revered dealers like Giuseppe Eskenazi and Jam Lally.

 

Lots sold for over US$10m

CHEN RONG (13TH CENTURY) AS CATALOGUED IN SHIQU BAOJI, Six Dragons

Lot No.: 507
Painting Size: 34.3 x 440.4cm
Estimate: US$1,200,000 – 1,800,000
Sold: US$48,967,500

A MAGNIFICENT AND HIGHLY IMPORTANT BRONZE RITUAL WINE VESSEL, FANGZUN
LATE SHANG DYNASTY, ANYANG, 13TH-11TH CENTURY BC

Lot No.: 523
Height: 52.4cm
Estimate: US$6,000,000 – 8,000,000
Sold: US$37,207,500

A MAGNIFICENT AND HIGHLY IMPORTANT BRONZE RITUAL WINE VESSEL AND COVER, FANGLEI
ATE SHANG DYNASTY, ANYANG, 13TH-11TH CENTURY BC

Lot No.: 524
Height: 63.5cm
Estimate: US$5,000,000 – 8,000,000
Sold: US$33,847,500

ZHAO LINGRANG (LATE 11TH-EARLY 12TH CENTURY) AS CATALOGUED IN SHIQU BAOJI
Willows and Geese

Lot No.: 507
Painting Size: 32.6 x 93.1cm
Estimate: US$750,000 – 950,000
Sold: US$27,127,500

AN EXTREMELY RARE MASSIVE BRONZE RITUAL WINE VESSEL AND COVER, POU
LATE SHANG DYNASTY, ANYANG, 13TH-11TH CENTURY BC

Lot No.: 525
Height: 57.2cm
Estimate: US$4,000,000 – 6,000,000
Sold: US$27,127,500

A HIGHLY IMPORTANT AND EXTREMELY RARE BRONZE RITUAL RAM-FORM WINE VESSEL, GONG
LATE SHANG DYNASTY, 13TH-11TH CENTURY BC

Lot No.: 526
Height: 22cm
Estimate: US$6,000,000 – 8,000,000
Sold: US$27,127,500

LI GONGLIN (1049-1106) AS CATALOGUED IN SHIQU BAOJI
Treaty of Bianqiao

Lot No.: 508
Painting Size: 26.4 x 895.4cm
Estimate: US$800,000 – 1,000,000
Sold: US$17,607,500

HAN GAN (706-783) AS CATALOGUED IN SHIQU BAOJI
Horse

Lot No.: 509
Painting Size: 31.9 x 38.4cm
Estimate: US$500,000 – 700,000
Sold: US$17,047,500

 

Auction Summary

Auction House: Christie's New York
Sale: Important Chinese Art from The Fujita Museum
Sale No.: 14319
Date: 2017/3/15
Lots: 31
Sold: 29
Unsold: 2
Average Price per Sold Lot: US$9,063,431
Selling Rate: 94%

(prices include buyer's premium, unless otherwise stated)