New York – The opening sale of Bonhams' Asia Week New York, the Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art auction, captivated collectors and bidders alike, achieving remarkable results. The leading lot, a superbly painted vase with dragons amidst clouds, Qianlong period (1736-1795), exemplified the antiquarian movement of the early Qing dynasty, paying homage to the high style and technological achievements of 15th-century Ming dynasty imperial porcelains. Its painterly 'dragon and cloud' motif, inspired by Song dynasty ink paintings in the Qing Court Collection, further underscored its historical significance. A true masterpiece, the only known comparable work resides in the Beijing Palace Museum. Estimated at $400,000–800,000, the vase sparked an intense bidding war among 10 bidders over the phone and online, ultimately selling for an astonishing $3.7 million, more than six times its estimate.

A further exceptional Imperial vase, dated to the Yongzheng reign (1723-1735), was offered at $400,000 – 600,000, soared past its estimate to $1.75 million. Demonstrating the fascination of the imperial court with archaism, it was decorated with chi-dragons.

Asaph Hyman, Bonhams' Global Head of Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, commented: "Bonhams New York has been going from strength to strength, offering the finest and rarest of Chinese art. This was exemplified by the superb prices achieved for the Qianlong and Yongzheng vases, as well as many other pieces of earlier periods. I am extremely grateful to the collectors and our wonderful team who worked tirelessly to achieve these results."

Dessa Goddard, Head of Asian art, North America, commented: "It was a delight to bring to the market such rare ceramics and works of art, and a testament to the depth and robustness of the market, as well as the exceptional pieces of Chinese art that we've discovered across North America."

The auction continued to deliver exceptional results. Highlights included:

• A rare yellow-ground falangcai bowl, sold for $102,100.
• A rare blue and white jar with 'horse and peony' design, sold for $152,900.
• A superb and rare dingyao 'persimmon'-glazed cupstand, sold for $140,200.

The sale also featured the first part of The Bernard and Francine Wald Collection of Snuff Bottles, comprising 87 rare lots. This collection, celebrated for its exquisite detailing and craftsmanship, was a standout of the auction. Highlights included:

• A superb bulbous chalcedony agate 'bird and loquats' snuff bottle, sold for $53,760 (estimate: $15,000 – 25,000).
• A black, gray and white jade 'meng haoran' snuff bottle, sold for $32,000 (estimate: $8,000 – 12,000).

"The Wald Collection showcased some of the most exquisite examples of snuff bottles, each a true miniature masterpiece. We are delighted by the remarkable success of this collection," said Michael Hughes, Head of the Chinese Art department.

Overall, the Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art including the Bernard and Francine Wald Collection of Snuff Bottles, Part I achieved $9 million, with a sell-through rate of 82%.

The next Asia Week sale is Classical and Modern Chinese Paintings taking place on March 18, followed by Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Art on March 19, and Fine Japanese and Korean Art on March 20, in addition to a series of online sales.

(Press Release)