On the evening of April 7, the five-day China Guardian Hong Kong 2024 Spring Auction came to a successful conclusion. The 12 sale, with 1,500 lots, achieved a total of HK$330 million, representing a sell-through rate of 73%. Online sales were hot, with 32% of lots sold online, with a total of HK$27 million.
On the most beautiful April day in the world, the Spring Auction came to a successful conclusion with a total turnover of HK$330 million and a sell-through rate of 73%. During the five-day preview and auction, our warm and beautiful exhibition site recorded the highest number of visitors in history, with an average of 2,000 visitors per day, and the number of visitors and participants in the auction was endless. Despite the market adjustments and changes, with the strong support of new and old friends, we have achieved an expected result. Once again, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all the friends from all over the world, your full trust and sincere support will always be the driving force to move us forward. While the Spring Auction was successfully completed, we did not dare to slack off, immediately adjusted the pace, embarked on the journey of the Autumn Auction, and looked forward to the reunion of Xiangjiang in the golden autumn and October!
——Mr. Chen Yifeng, President of China Guardian (Hong Kong).
List of high-priced lots
TOP1
Lot 208
White jade with a phoenix
Price realised: HK$ 18,636,000
TOP2
Lot 570
Qing Yongzheng
Ink color "Du Fu You Spring" picture pen holder
Price realised: HK$ 10,329,000
TOP3
Lot 44
Wu Guanzhong
new home
Price realised: HK$ 9,627,000
TOP4
Lot 152
In modern times, Gu Jingzhou and Han Meilin cooperated
Yixing purple sand partridge beam pot
Price realised: HK$ 8,340,000
TOP5
Lot 795
Qi Baishi, the god chicken
Price realised: HK$ 7,170,000
TOP6
Lot 195
Topaz toothed face ornamentation
Price realised: HK$ 7,170,000
TOP7
Lot 42
Wu Dayu
Flower Rhyme (Untitled 92)
Price realised: HK$ 6,468,000
TOP8
Lot 47
Chu Teh-Chun
Composition No. 19 - Reflecting the Light of the Night
Price realised: HK$ 5,760,000
TOP9
Lot 680
Qing Qianlong pure gold inlaid pearl dragon pattern wine glass with a holder
Price realised: HK$ 5,400,000
TOP10
Lot 773
Zhang Daqian, a lady of the bamboo forest
Price realised: HK$ 4,860,000
TOP11
Lot 1102
The bronze king is intended to be a sword
Price realised: HK$ 4,680,000
TOP12
Lot 1062
"Jiachen Year" Digital Stamp Collection Xiangrui Stamp Gold (99g pure gold) No.00001
Price realised: HK$ 4,200,000
TOP13
Lot 1153
Early Ming Dynasty white marble "Fushan Stone"
Price realised: HK$ 2,400,000
TOP14
Lot 984
Zodiac Zhou to Ni Yuanlu's poetry axis
Price realised: HK$ 2,160,000
The market strategy was successful and 100% of the transactions were completed
The Spring Auction has a number of important private collections and special sessions, all of which were 100% sold, creating white glove sales and bringing encouraging market performance, including "Voices of Haiyun: Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy from the Collection of Japanese Writer Yasushi Inoue", "Bamboo Yun Xuan Collection of Paintings and Calligraphy", "Nanyang Paintings", "Important Asian Private Collections", "Qingquan Stones: Treasures from the Luo Family Collection of Bincheng", "Paintings from the Eryi Thatched Cottage Collection", "Nanyang Private Collection" and "Treasures from the Xuanyin Lu" In the porcelain department, 32 pieces of monochrome glazed porcelain "Clever and Clumsy – Zhuyuetang Collection II" released by Mr. Kan Wing-ching, a member of Minqiu Monastery in Hong Kong, and the "Year of the Dragon Digital Gold Stamps RWA Collectibles Sale", which was launched by Hong Kong Guardian for the first time and the first digital stamp in China, were also 100% sold in white gloves!
Bidding for fierce lots
In the spring auction, many lots were fiercely bid, and on-site, telephone commissions, and online bids came and went, which is a testament to the market activity and the unremitting pursuit of high-quality products. Shen Zhou and Wen Zhengming's "Shen Wen Album" in ancient paintings and calligraphy sparked many fierce bids, and finally sold for HK$2.04 million for 80 lots, the white jade with a phoenix with jade like fat started at HK$5.5 million and sold for HK$18.63 million after 42 bids, and Wu Guanzhong's first work "New Home" after the six-year painting ban was lifted It attracted 17 bids and was sold for HK$9.627 million, the bronze Yue Wang with a clear inscription was sold for HK$4.68 million in 40 bids, and China's first digital and physical 99g gold stamps were successfully purchased by 4 on-site buyers and 3 online buyers at 4.2 million Hong Kong dollars.
Chinese painting and calligraphy
The total turnover was HK$88.8 million
90% total sell-through rate
The 2024 Spring Auction in Hong Kong has become the first market knock of the year, the sound is not small but full of contagion, just like our attitude in the face of some unknown challenges, courage and compliance are as important, in line with the relatively weak pulse of the market, to maintain the gentleness and vitality of the transaction, is our appeal, from the transaction results seem to be the first knock is quite loud. Looking forward to a sustainable strong voice from Beijing next month.
——Guo Tong, Director of China Guardian (Hong Kong) and Head of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Department
With the sale of the last lot of "Meditation" at 888,000 yuan, the total number of Chinese paintings and calligraphy sold by Hong Kong Guardian this season was 88.8 million, with a sell-through rate of 90%. The auction was full of excitement throughout the day, and there were many highlights. In particular, it is worth mentioning that this session should be the best atmosphere since the epidemic, the auction hall is almost full and continues to add seats, the bidding is decisive and neat, and there are bright surprises in almost all sections, which is really a warm atmosphere that has not been seen for a long time. I believe that the atmosphere is good, and the high transaction rate is the most important expectation of the market, and it is also the news of the spring auction that will be held in Beijing in May. It is hoped that the constant cultural and artistic value of Chinese calligraphy and painting can become a stable force through all kinds of uncertainties!
——David David, General Manager of the Department of Modern and Contemporary Chinese Painting and Calligraphy
Transaction Highlights
Porcelain crafts
The total turnover was HK$152 million
This season's two-day auction of the Porcelain Crafts Department presented seven special auctions, and the on-site bidding was enthusiastic, and finally achieved a brilliant result of 152 million Hong Kong dollars, and two fine works were sold for more than 10 million Hong Kong dollars.
In the increasingly popular porcelain handicraft auction market, collectors are becoming more and more demanding on their lots, paying more attention to the source, quality and theme of the lots. The highly acclaimed White Glove Sale, "Clever Porcelain II" and two jade sessions, "Elegant Jade" and "Xuanli Sifang", accounted for more than half of the total turnover of the Porcelain Crafts Department, with a total of HK$77.78 million sold, demonstrating the market's keen interest in rare and raw goods.
In addition, the highly sought-after "Taiwan Xuchou Zhai Collection" and "Yu An Tang Collection of Chinese Porcelain II" sold for HK$17.68 million and HK$6.1 million respectively, while the enthusiastic auction for "Reflecting the Water and Hidden Mountains: Court Art and Ancient Aesthetics" sold for HK$27.55 million, and the permanent antiquities sale sold for a steady period of HK$23.35 million.
The auction market has become more challenging as collectors' expectations and quality demands on their lots continue to rise. However, it has also opened up more opportunities for us to continue to expand our online market, and it has also inspired us to discover more rare collections. Once again, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all collectors for their active participation and look forward to seeing you again in Hong Kong in autumn.
——Wang Jing, general manager of the porcelain handicraft department
Transaction Highlights
Asian 20th Century and Contemporary Art
The total turnover was HK$66.84 million
81% total sold through the lot.
Thanks to the support and participation of collectors from all over the world, 30 works in the 20th Century & Contemporary Art Department of Asia presented the "Beauty of the Four Seasons" feature in the Guardian Hong Kong Spring Auction, fetching HK$44.12 million, with a sell-through rate of 85%. Among them, Wu Guanzhong's golden age masterpiece "New Home" in the 70s won the transaction crown, with an eye-catching transaction of HK$9.627 million. and Wu Dayu's "Flower Rhyme" changed hands for 6.468 million Hong Kong dollars. Chu Teh-Chun's "Iron Wire Period" boutique "Composition No. 19 - Reflecting the Light of the Night" was sold for 5.76 million. In addition, a number of works, such as Wu Zuoren's "Peony", two works by Yayoi Kusama, and Shi Hu's "Yemei Tu", were all sold at valuation multiples, showing the market's demand for high-quality products.
Another feature on "Our Times", which brought together 20 outstanding Asian contemporary artists, achieved a 90% sell-through rate. Among them, Ji Xin's "Pine Branch" attracted enthusiastic bidding from the audience, and was sold at HK$1.68 million more than eight times the pre-auction estimate, performing brilliantly. China's contemporary Huang Yuxing and Ouyang Chun, and the new generation of Qiu Ruixiang, Sun Xun, Fan Yangzong, etc., have all written good results.
In addition, Geng Jianyi's "Untitled" set a world auction record for an artist's works on paper. We would like to thank you all for your trust and support, and we will be working hard to present another wonderful auction in the fall of 2024.
——General Manager, 20th Century & Contemporary Asia, Chan Pui Cen
Transaction Highlights
Furniture crafts
The total turnover was HK$17.39 million
86% total sell-through rate
This spring, the Classical Furniture & Crafts Department launched the "A Variety of Important Private Collections of Gold and Stone Art in Asia", which for the first time launched nearly 100 lots/groups with a macro concept of gold and stone, with a total sale of HK$17.39 million and a sell-through rate of 86%.
As an important part of the collection of gold and stone seal carvings, ancient seals not only have a solid base of buyers but also have a high academic level. Zhen Qin Zhai as a banner of the ancient seal collection, its launch of the lot attracted the attention and participation of many collectors, the on-site bidding atmosphere was warm, Zhen Qin Zhai collection seals and weapons were all sold, the bronze Yue Wang Ge, the bronze Yue Wang is intended to be in the sword bidding fierce, respectively 1.92 million, 4.68 million Hong Kong dollars sold. The rest of the ancient seals in the collections of overseas collectors also performed well, and the official seal of the old collection of Hashimoto Guanxue old collection bronze gilt Guannei Hou Gui Niu was sold for HK$336,000. It shows that the gold and stone section with famous collections and detailed descriptions has huge market potential.
In the stone appreciation part, 17 pieces of stone appreciation, Taihu Lake, Lingbi and other literati stones collected by Ding Wen's father Niliuzhai are specially introduced, so that we can appreciate these unique stones from the perspective of sculpture art. Among them, the Ming carved "Prajna Heart Sutra" large hole Lingbi stone and the early Ming Dynasty white marble "Fushan Stone" were sold for 1.02 million and 2.4 million Hong Kong dollars respectively, reflecting the special market feelings.
In the future, we will continue to work hard to bring more wonderful lots to collectors in the field of gold and stone art.
——Qiao Hao, general manager of the classical furniture department
Transaction Highlights
Year of the Dragon Digital Gold Stamps RWA Collectibles Sale
The total turnover was HK$5.52 million
Up to 100% total turnover rate
As China's first digital stamp, the competition for the high-profile Year of the Dragon Digital Gold Stamp RWA Collectibles is fierce. No.00001 auspicious stamps gold auction after the start of the auction caused a lot of fierce competition from a group of buyers, 4 buyers and 3 online buyers after a dragon battle, after 31 bids, by a buyer in the venue successfully bid, with a transaction of 4.2 million. Another lot, The Year of the First Century, was also a highly competitive collection of digital stamps, with three on-site buyers and three online buyers bidding for HK$1.1 million and HK$1.32 million. The auction achieved an impressive 100% sell-through rate and a white glove sale of HK$5.52 million.
「BLOOMING」珠宝及钟表展售会
Following last spring, the "BLOOMING" Jewellery & Watch Fair has come to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to meet you as scheduled. Different from ordinary auctions, it is presented to collectors and old friends in the form of exhibitions. Despite the unpredictable market environment, we are all very pleased to see that our old friends are still enthusiastic about jewellery and watches, and the sales hall is still full of people this spring.
We are very honoured to be able to meet you in Hong Kong, and we will continue to present more exciting and diverse products in Hong Kong in the future.
——Liu Xiao, general manager of the jewelry and watch department