Sotheby’s presented three masterpieces from the collection of an English lady in its special sale and the results have been announced. The leading lot, a blue and white ‘Makara’ jar, was the most expensive lot at the sale. It was hammered down at HK$30m and sold for HK$35.5m (US$4.54m) with buyer’s premium. The second most expensive lot was a large cloisonné enamel ‘dragon’ tianqiuping from Yongzheng period in Qing dynasty. The final lot, a Zitan ‘Dragon and Phoenix’ chest from the Qianlong period in Qing dynasty, was passed at the end.

The sale was led by a blue and white ‘Makara’ jar inscribed on the glazed counter sunken base with a six-character reign mark within a double circle, which carried an estimate of HK$30m-40m (US$3,840,000 - 5,120,000). The bidding started at HK$20m and bidders were mainly those in the room. The reception was lukewarm and the bid increment was then lowered from HK$2m to HK$1m. The lot was hammered down at HK$30m and sold for HK$35,537,500 (US$4,548,800) with buyer’s premium.

The second top lot fell to a large cloisonné enamel ‘dragon’ tianqiuping. It is decorated with bright enamels of various hue within strong gilt-bronze outlines, depicting a ferocious three-clawed dragon with mouth wide opened revealing sharp fangs and a curled tongue. There is no inscription on the base but it is believed to be made in Yongzheng period in Qing dynasty. The tianqiuping carried a pre-sale estimate of HK$6m-8m (US$768,000 - 1,024,000). The bidding began at HK$4m and bidders seemed more enthusiastic about this tianqiuping than the jar. After several bids, the price skyrocketed to HK$10m. The lot was hammered down at HK$12m and sold for HK$14.5m (US$1.856m) with buyer’s premium, surpassing its pre-sale estimate.

The last one was a Zitan ‘Dragon and Phoenix’ chest from the Qianlong period in Qing dynasty’, estimated at HK$2m-3m (US$256,000 — 384,000). The bidding started at HK$1.5m and soon stopped as there was only one bid increment followed. The lot was passed in at HK$1.7m.

AN EXCEPTIONAL BLUE AND WHITE 'MAKARA' JAR
MARK AND PERIOD OF XUANDE

Lot no.: 101
Height: 19cm
Provenance: Bluett & Sons, London, 1963.
Estimate: HK$30,000,000 - 40,000,000 (US$3,840,000 - 5,120,000)
Hammer price: HK$30,000,000
Price realized: HK$35,537,500 (US$4,548,800)

AN EXTREMELY RARE AND LARGE CLOISONNE ENAMEL 'DRAGON' TIANQIUPING
QING DYNASTY, YONGZHENG PERIOD

Lot no.: 102
Height: 57.3 cm
Provenance: Spink & Son, London.
Estimate: HK$6,000,000 - 8,000,000  (US$768,000 - 1,024,000)
Hammer price: HK$12,000,000
Price realized: HK$ 14,500,000 (US$1,856,000)

A SUPERBLY CARVED ZITAN 'DRAGON AND PHOENIX' CHEST
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

Lot no.: 103
Size: 24.7 x 49.2 x 28.6 cm
Provenance: Hugh Moss, Hong Kong, 1974-1984.
Estimate: HK$2,000,000 - 3,000,000 (US$256,000 - 384,000)
Passed

Auction Summary
Auction house: Sotheby’s Hong Kong
Sale: Three Masterpieces From the Collection of an English Lady
Sale date: 2017/10/3
Sale total: HK$50,037,500
No. of lots: 3
Sold: 2
Unsold: 1
Average price per lot: HK$25,018,750
Sell-through rate: 66.6%

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