Buoyed by a wave of new buyers, Kaminski Auctions’ Asian and Estate Auction on July 12 ran up some very impressive numbers on many of the top lots. Preview day was particularly well-attended, and the auction itself had many new buyers in attendance.
The auction started strong with heated bidding coming from the floor and all three Internet platforms. Chinese porcelain continued to be a very strong category, with the many blue and white porcelain entries seeing particularly strong interest.
Surprisingly, the two top lots of the sale were a Chinese military sword with a scabbard of metal and wood and an intricately carved jade handle embellished with a jade bead with gold chasing and tassel and a Chinese carved white jade seal featuring intricate carving on the sides of gilt calligraphy, a Greek key scroll border on the top edge and a doubled headed mythical beast with horns and bulging eyes. The sword sold for $92,400 and the jade seal for $90,000 to the same buyer in China.
A large and rare 18th-century Chinese bronze Buddha measuring 27 inches tall and 16.5 inches wide was hotly contested on the Internet and sold for $25,200.
The first of many pieces of blue and white porcelain that sold crossed the podium as Lot #8115. The Chinese blue and white Mei vase with Qing Qianlong mark was decorated with five clawed dragons amongst clouds over waves and stood 13.75-inches in height. It sold for $22,200, while a Chinese blue and white moon vase with the Qianlong mark sold for $20,400.
"I was very pleased with the sale; it was an exciting sale. I was especially pleased with the level of interest on all the top lots," said Bob Yang, Kaminski's Asian specialist.
Other items that sold well included a Chinese carved zitan wood stand with lotus flowers and other designs, standing 48-inches high, that brought $19,200. A 19th-century Chinese tripod Gui bowl and a Qing dynasty carved jade mountain both sold for $15,600 each.
There were over 1,160 new users on the company’s website from over 46 countries.
The next Asian sale for Kaminski is scheduled for November 2015.
For more information, email Bob Yang at asian@kaminskiauctions.com or visit www.kaminskiauctions.com.