This the Asia Week Fall edition, both leading auction houses secured museum-grade collections. While Sotheby’s sale of Chinese art from the Metropolitan Museum of Art was led by a US$1.3m spinach-green jade ‘dragon’ washer, Christie’s pulled off a white-glove sale offering a selection of Chinese art from The Art Institute of Chicago. All 84 lots were sold and realised a total of US$5m, exceeding the sum of presale low estimates of US$3.1m.

The Art Institute of Chicago

Founded in 1879, The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States. Since its first acquisition of Asian Art, the museum continues to expand and diversify its Asian Art collection with the help from the donation by many renowned collectors. It stands as one of the world’s foremost sites for the study, preservation, and presentation of works from across the Asian continent.

Numerous lots were sold for prices beyond their estimates, including the top three lots. Leading the sale is a large blue and white ‘dragon and lotus’ vase, tianqiuping, Qianlong, which was sold for US$519,000.

A Very Rare Large Blue and White ‘Dragon and Lotus’ Vase, Tianqiuping, Qianlong, was sold for US$519,000

Measuring 62.3cm in height, the massive tianqiuping vase is vividly painted in deep cobalt blue with two five-clawed dragons writhing amidst a dense ground of lotus scroll. The present vase was produced as an appreciation of early Ming dynasty prototypes.

The vase was accessioned by The Art Institute of Chicago in 1937. Prior to that, the vase was owned by Carrie H. and Martin A. Ryerson, the latter one was an American businessman, philanthropist and collector.

Ryerson became Chicago’s richest man by the age of 36. He was a passionate art collector and one of the members of the AIC’s Orientals group. He stands among the most influential donors in the museum’s history. His private collection of paintings by Monet, Sargent, Homer, and others would be gifted to the museum along with Asian works of art. Estimated at US$300,000-500,000, this cover lot of the sale was hammered down at US$420,000 and sold for US$519,000 to a room bidder with the paddle no. 327.

Large Wucai 'Garlic-Head' Vases Wanli Six-character Mark (Left: lot 710; right: lot 711) ｜ both were respectively sold for US$399,000

Another highlight of the sale is a pair of large Wucai 'garlic-head' vases Wanli Six-character mark, with a height of 56.5cm and 57cm respectively. Both are inscribed with Wanli six-character mark on the mouth. The pair is separated into two lots and each carried an estimate of US$200,000-US$300,000.

Both come from the collection of Russell Tyson, who donated almost a thousand works of art to the Art Institute of Chicago. A majority of his collection was Asian Art.

The auctioneer started the bidding at US$110,000 and put the hammer down at US$320,000 after 15 bids. Both vases were respectively sold for US$399,000 to the same gentleman in the room with the paddle no. 209.

Before the sale began, the auction house decided to offer a range of selected lots without reserve, an arrangement that is usually seen in items with low estimates so as to guarantees the lots will be sold. Still, many lots were sold for prices much higher than the estimates at this sale, which is the only sale that achieved 100% sell-through rate in this Asia Week.

Top three lots

A Very Rare Large Blue and White ‘Dragon and Lotus’ Vase, Tianqiuping

Lot no.: 763
Height: 62.3cm
Provenance:

• Carrie H. (1859-1937) and Martin A. (1856-1932) Ryerson Collection, Chicago.
• The Art Institute of Chicago, accessioned in 1937.

Estimate: US$300,000 - 500,000
Hammer price: US$420,000
Price realised: US$519,000

A Rare Large Wucai 'garlic-head' Vase
Wanli Six-character Mark in Underglaze Blue in a Line and of the Period (1573-1619)
Estimate: US$

Lot no.: 710
Height: 56.5cm
Provenance:

• Russell Tyson (1867-1963) Collection, Chicago, before 1954.
• The Art Institute of Chicago, accessioned in 1954.

Estimate: US$200,000 - 300,000
Hammer price: US$320,000
Price realised: US$399,000

A Rare Large Wucai 'Garlic-Head' Vase
Wanli Six-character Mark in Underglaze Blue in a Line and of the Period (1573-1619)

Lot no.: 711
Height: 57cm
Provenance:

• Russell Tyson (1867-1963) Collection, Chicago, before 1954.
• The Art Institute of Chicago, accessioned in 1954.

Estimate: US$200,000 - 300,000
Hammer price: US$320,000
Price realised: US$399,000

Auction summary

Auction house: Christie’s New York
Sale: Chinese Art from The Art Institute of Chicago
Sale date: 12 September 2019

Lots offered: 84
Sold: 84
Unsold: 0
Sold by lot: 100%
Sale total: US$5,004,250