Ravenel Spring Auction 2015 Hong Kong, “Literati Sublimation - Oriental Arts for the Chinese Scholars,” came to a conclusion on June 2. Greatly indebted to the appreciation of collectors from various sectors, the sale ended with HK$ 10,891,800 in total revenue. It was our first attempt to combine the ceramics of the Song Dynasty with ink and wash paintings. The results turned out to be very satisfying, reflecting the rising trend in the highly cultured art market. Ink and wash paintings in particular performed extremely well. At this special auction, 45 out of 94 lots were sold.
Themed with the ceramics of the Song Dynasty and ink and wash paintings, “Literati Sublimation - Oriental Arts for the Chinese Scholars” ended smoothly. Collected by Dr. K.T. Lin, An Extremely Rare Hutian Porcelain Sculpture from the Song Dynasty realized HK$3,120,000 as expected. An Extremely Rare and Very Large Din Yao Bowl Carved with Flowers from the Northern Song Dynasty was sold for HK$1,920,000. The auction results indicated the growing market in Chinese antique ceramics. Attracting special attention, An Important and Finely Carved Gray Schist of Standing Buddha, Ancient Region of Gandhara circa 2nd to 3rd century realized HK$780,000. An Extremely Rare and Large Raozhou Qingbai Glazed Floral Pillow from the Northern Song Dynasty was sold for HK$780,000 after several bids, which once again proved the appeal of Song ceramics for the collectors. Sold higher than the estimate, A Very Large Dingyao Black Glazed Tea Bowl from the Five Dynasties period realized HK$382,000. The market for high-class Chinese antique ceramics has become increasingly defined, and the results also reveal that literati style, as exemplified by pieces from the Song dynasty, will continue to turn in better performance in the auction market.
In addition to the ceramics of the Song Dynasty, ink and wash paintings were also in the spotlight. “Amitayus 8” by Zeng Yang marked the first wave of exciting bids. After several rounds of bids, two collectors bidding by phone remained and continued to outbid one another, driving the price up increasingly higher. After the gavel landed, Amitayus 8 was sold for an impressive HK$78,000. After several bids at the auction house, the sale of “Amitayus (nine places)”, another lot by Zeng Yang, also came down to a competition between two collectors on phone bids. After a drawn-out bidding process, it was sold for an astounding HK$108,000.
As Vivi He, head of Business Development at Ravenel, explains, “It was our first attempt to combine ceramics with ink and wash paintings under the theme of high culture at Ravenel Spring Auction 2015 Hong Kong, ‘Literati Sublimation - Oriental Arts for the Chinese Scholars.’ We are grateful for the attention and appreciation of our esteemed collectors. Ravenel will continue to strive to develop and nurture better and more superior artistic lifestyles for those who have a truly profound love for antiquities.”