Sotheby’s has a long-standing history as the leading auction house for Chinese works of art. From establishing the London Chinese Works of Art department in 1922, conducting our inaugural Chinese Art auction in 1964 and becoming the first auction house to establish a presence in Hong Kong in 1973, to engaging over 500 new clients in this category in recent years, Sotheby's dedication to the field has propelled the market to new heights, producing exceptional outcomes for our consignors. In 2025 so far, we have already reached over $129 million USD in sales of Chinese art globally for our consignors.

This September, Hong Kong presented Masterpieces of Chinese Ceramics from the Ise Collection, realizing $46 million USD in sales, surpassing its presale high estimate of $32.6 million USD. Leading the sale was an important heirloom Guan lobed dish from the Southern Song dynasty, which sold for $7.2 million USD, or 224% of its pre-sale estimate; blue and white Chenghua mark and period 'lily' palace bowl sold for $4.5 million USD; and Southern Song dynasty 'beishoku' guan vase achieved $3.2 million USD.

In New York, the Chinese Art auction in September achieved $10.2 million USD in aggregate sales, surpassing its $8.9 pre-sale high estimate. Highlights included the sale of a magnificent and extremely rare Yongzheng famille-rose 'peony, magnolia and peach blossom' vase, for $2.6 million USD, or 653% of its presale estimate; a rare and important gilt-lacquered bronze figure of Acuoye Guanyin from Dali Kingdom, for $889,000 USD; and an exceptionally rare carved and molded 'Yaozhou' tripod censer from the Northern Song / Jin dynasty for $609,600 USD or 222% of its pre-sale estimate.

The Chinese Art sale in Paris in June also saw exceptional results, totaling $6.8 million USD in aggregate sales against a pre-sale high estimate of $4.7 million USD. Highlights included an important gilt-bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara from the Dali Kingdom realizing $587,000 USD; and a Qianlong mark and period blue and white 'dragon' tianqiuping sold for $807,000 USD or 873% of their pre-sale estimate.

Season after season, we are honored to be entrusted with the greatest masterworks and collections of Chines art. The strong results from 2025 are testament to continuing market strength in this area, which we are confident will continue into next year.

To learn about the value of your Chinese art, simply submit images and information through our easy-to-use online estimate form. Our global team of specialists will review your submission and issue preliminary estimates for items that can be included in our sales.