Hammer Price 121% Above Total Low Estimate

Almost 40% of Lots Surpassed Pre-Sale High Estimates

7 Lots Sold Above HK$10 Million/ US$1.3 Million

Millennial Buyers Accounted For 40% of New Buyers

Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Ink Paintings

Realised HK$206,684,820 / US$26,514,562
40% of Lots Sold Above High Estimates

Fine Chinese Classical Paintings and Calligraphy

Realised HK$153,878,990 / US$19,740,366
Hammer Price 154% Above Total Low Estimate

Over 15,000 Visitors Drawn to Auction Preview, and Special Exhibition of The Foh Collection

Hong Kong – On 31 May and 1 June, Christie’s held two live auctions of Chinese Paintings: Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Ink Paintings, and Fine Chinese Classical Paintings and Calligraphy, achieving a combined total of HK$360,563,810 / US$46,254,929, with the total hammer price reaching 121% of the combined low estimate. The auctions attracted notably spirited bidding from 15 countries across four continents. Significant buying activity from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Singapore contributed to the solid results, propelling the sold prices of numerous lots to multiples higher than their low estimates.

The sale series was led by Qiu Ying’s Celestial Mountains and Pavilions offered in the Fine Chinese Classical Paintings and Calligraphy auction, and sold for HK$31,230,000 / US$4,006,341. The Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Ink Paintings auction was headlined by Lin Fengmian's Opera Figures: Lotus Lantern. Hailing from an English gentleman's collection, the artwork garnered significant interest and ultimately sold for HK$23,970,000 / US$3,074,991, over five times its low estimate.

During the two-day live auction event, Christie's showcased a curated selection of seminal works with exceptional provenance, bolstered by the presence of numerous fresh-to-market pieces contributing to the event's overall success. The auctions successfully achieved a 100% sell-through rate for an array of distinguished single-owner collections. Of particular significance, the "From the Collection of Anna Fang, Madame Wong Nan-Ping" selection demonstrated remarkable performance, amassing a total of HK$12.2 million/ US$1.6 million and attaining a hammer price that exceeded the total low estimate by 162%.

Kim Yu, Senior Vice President, and Chairman of Chinese Paintings Department, Christie’s Asia Pacific, commented, “We are pleased and appreciative of the unwavering support from collectors and Chinese paintings enthusiasts for our Live Spring Auctions. The outstanding results for both modern and classical Chinese paintings, and distinguished single-owner collections being fully sold, highlight the strong demand and appreciation for this art form. Notably, millennials accounted for 40% of new buyers, reflecting the enduring appeal and growing interest in Chinese Paintings among younger generations. Additionally, the special non-selling exhibition, 'The Foh Collection', further showcased our dedication to Chinese paintings. We eagerly anticipate extending this momentum to the concurrently running Exquisite Eye: Chinese Paintings Online sale, which continues until 2 June.”

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