Today at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, three world records were established in Chinese Works of Art Spring Sales Series. An outstanding imperial inscribed white jade “Ji’entang” seal Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period fetched HK$145,691,000 / US$18,770,828, the highest price ever achieved both for any Imperial jade seal, and for any white jade object ever sold at auction. In addition, the only surviving Ming Dynasty Imperial Seal - a superb imperial green jade memorial seal of the Yongle Empress Wen, from Hongxi Period - realised HK$43,430,000 / US$5,595,521, well above the high estimate (Est: HK$25,000,000 - 30,000,000 / US $$3,220,000 - 3,870,000).
Earlier today, at Sotheby’s ‘Monochrome III’ auction, an extremely rare Imperial jade masterpiece, realised HK$53,771,000 / US$6,927,856 - a world auction record for an archaic jade. At the centre of the piece in question was an extraordinarily rare, highly important and beautifully inscribed Han Dynasty ‘bi’.
Sells for HK$53,771,000 / US$ 6,927,856
It has been a thrill to handle these exceptional objects, and to see their artistry and history so keenly admired by collectors and enthusiasts alike. With these record-breaking results, Sotheby’s leadership in the field of Chinese works of art is reaffirmed; and I have the personal pleasure of seeing these extraordinary works find illustrious new homes, where I know they will be treasured as they were by the great Emperors to whom they first belonged.
