Most expensive auctions in Asia
Be it economic crisis or heavy recession, when it comes to auctions of unique things, the items are sold at truly astronomical prices by the time the winning bid is accepted. Auction houses like Christie’s and Bonhams are famous for selling off some most amazing stuff at breathtaking prices and the auctions take place in many countries. Recently, Sotheby's Asia was able to post net sales to the tune of $411millions amid market turmoil.Some of the record breaking auctions are held in Asia and provide access to the global fine art, luxury goods and collectibles for a new generation of collectors, dealers and artists, placing China and Hong Kong almost at par with London and New York. We bring you the list of most expensive auctions that took place in Asia so far.
1. Flower Vase
Price: $21.6 Million
At Sotheby’s
This 15th century porcelain vase was the part of Meiyintang collection and was sold at the Sotheby’s auction recently in Hong Kong. The vase, which belonged to Swiss businessman Stephen Zuellig, fetched $21.6 million in just ten minutes of aggressive bidding. This Ming period vase is adorned in white and blue intricate work and the auction house says the only similar work is presently in the Palace Museum in Beijing.
2. Imperial Censers
Price: $16.7 million
At Christie’s International
These bejeweled cranes were commissioned by the Emporer Qialong of Hong Kong and were part of his personal collection even after he became the king. The pair of imperial Cloisonne enamel double crane censers is from the Yongzheng period (1723-1735). This set changed many hands since its time of creation, and is currently owned by Josepg Lau, one of the richest men in Hong Kong.
3. Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond
Price: $10.1 million
At Sotheby’s
Sotheby's, world’s fourth oldest auction house, once again brings out its Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite Autumn Sale. This year the top jewelry that sold at the top lot was a fancy vivid blue diamond that fetched a whopping $10.1 million. 6.01-carat diamond ring that has rubies at the sides and a big blue diamond set on a platinum ring was sold to an unknown buyer.
4. Zao Wou-ki painting
Price: $ 8.8 Million
At Sotheby's
An abstract painting by Zao Wou-ki fetched $ 8.8 Million at a painting auction held in Hong Kong by Sotheby’s. The 1968 work was led by 360 lots of fine Chinese paintings including ink brush landscapes, centuries-old scrolls, calligraphy and folding fans, even as the Hong Kong stock market fell nearly four percent for a second consecutive day. The artwork was sold to an unknown Chinese art lover who splurged $ 8.8 Million on this beautiful abstract painting.
5. Singing-Bird Pistols
Price: $5.8 Million
At Christie’s
A pair of singing bird pistols was sold at the Christie’s International sale in Hong Kong for $5.8 Million. Though they cannot tell time but they have the motorized action parallel to a windup cuckoo bird. The item was the centerpiece of a fierce bidding war at Christie’s and was amongst the most expensive items sold at the auction. Although the bidder opted to remain unnamed but according to the auction house, it was bidding war between two of the world’s most connoisseur collectors.
6. 96c olive-bistre stamp
Price: $ 822,400
At Spink's
An extremely unique Queen Victoria 96c olive-bistre stamp was sold at a record braking price of $ 8,22,400 at Spink’s Hong Kong. The auction features series of rare stamps, coins, banknotes, bonds and shares which took place at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hotel. This exclusive block of four 96c olive-bistre is said to have been made in 1864 by De la Rue. 52 sheets of 240 stamps each were unpredictably made in the olive-bistre color. These four stamps were the centerpiece at the auction and have been auctioned only twice.
7. Giant tuna
Price: $ 390,000
At Tsukiji fish market
A bluefin tuna weighed at 342 kg was sold at the whooping price of $ 390,000 in the first auction of 2011 at the Tsukiji fish market. Selling tuna in auctions is collaboration between merchants and the government in Japan. Japan is the world's largest customer of seafood, with Japanese eating 80 percent of the Atlantic and Pacific bluefins.
8. Emperor Qianlong antique fan watch
Price: $193,000
At Antiquorum
The auction house Antiquorum sold an antique timepiece that belonged to Qing dynasty Chinese Emperor Qianlong. The watch was the part of "Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces" that held in Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong recently. The Chinese nobility was passionate for profligate watches so King George III had one made in the agate handle of a truly spendthrift gold, silver, diamond, ruby, and emerald festooned fan for the 80th birthday of Emperor Qianlong in 1792. The opened fan features nine five-clawed dragons and the paper leaf on the fan is painted with the view of a quarrel between Achilles and Agamemnon during the Trojan War. The famed watch is an honor to the celebrated watchmaker James Cox. The fan watch was estimated to sell for $200,000 but was sold at $193,000.
9. Cuvee Leonie Cognac
Price: $156,740
At a recent auction in Shanghai, a bottle of 1858 cognac was sold for $156,740.
The bottle was sold at the Peace Hotel on the Bund auction in China and has a history associated with it. In 1892, the founder of the Croizet House, Leon Croizet, gifted this bottle to his daughter Maggie Vong which is why the bottle is named as Cuvee Leonie Cognac. The pricy bottle was one of the sixteen bottles auctioned at the sale in Shanghai. Maggie Vong, the possessor of the bottle said, “I learned about cognac from my father and bottle is kept for a ‘special occasion.’
This year, we showed you several splendid auctions that were held in Asia. One such list of auctions is most expensive jewelry sold at auction. Check out and stay tuned for more!
