Asia Week New York 2012: Fierce Competition in the Chinese Art Market

Chinese Art Market | "Hundred Butterflies" Vases

These two nearly identical "Hundred Butterflies" Chinese vases from the 19th century will be offered in the Skinner Asian Works of Art auction, April 20-21, 2012 in Boston. (Lots 641 and 644)

Chinese buyers ruled Asia Week New York once again in 2012. I try to attend Asia Week in New York each year, and this year I spent five days in the city, visiting museums, attending auctions, and talking to dealers, specialists, and other lovers of Asian Works of Art. We all marveled at the seemingly unstoppable frenzy of the Chinese art market, and wondered what this means for those who buy and sell Asian art in the West. For many, it has become a challenge to compete.

There seems to be no end in sight to the trend of Chinese buying their art back, much of it from old Western collections, and Chinese buyers filled the auction rooms in New York, driving prices up to staggering heights.

Imperial Chinese Art

For the most part, Imperial pieces brought the highest prices this week. Auction houses and top dealers are still discovering and offering a diverse and select group of works. A hand scroll estimated between $700,000 and $1,000,000, “Emperors of the Southern Song 12th-13th Century,” sold for $5.6 million. The same hand scroll sold in an April 2001 sale, along with two other works, for just $119,112, suggesting that there is more competition for Imperial works with each passing year.

Jade and Rhinoceros Horn

Fine jade and rhinoceros horn wine cups, even non-Imperial examples, sold high all week. The Chinese consider jade to be the most precious and auspicious material, and rhinoceros horn is believed by many to be an aphrodisiac.

As the number of wealthy Chinese collectors entering the market continues to rise, competition for all varieties of Chinese art will become fierce.

Skinner’s Asian Works of Art auction on April 20th and 21st offers buyers the opportunity to compete on a range of fine Asian and Chinese works similar to those seen at Asia Week auctions and galleries, including these two “Hundred Butterfly” enamel vases each with an iron-red Guangxu mark. Other works offered in the April auction include jades, bronze censers, textiles and several fine Ming dynasty Buddhist bronze figures.

Browse our Asian Art auction catalogue and let us know in the comments what you think will turn out to be the top lot. One thing is for certain—we expect crowds of Chinese buyers to turn out for the Skinner auction.

Meet the Experts: Judith Dowling, Director of Asian Works of Art, Part II

Expert appraisers of all manner of fine art and decorative objects work together at Skinner auction house to find, appraise, and research rare, beautiful, and historically important items. In this blog series, we will meet some of these experts and learn the stories behind their success.

Skinner recently welcomed Judith Dowling as Director of the Asian Works of Art department. Part I of the interview describes her career path and plans for the Skinner Asian Works of Art department. In this post, we’ll learn more about her favorite objects.

Discovering Antiquities and Post-war Japanese Art

Chinese Painting | Album of Paintings "Hai Pai Yi Yun"

Two leaves from an album of Chinese paintings featured in the April 20-21 Asian Works of Art auction (Lot 185, Est. $10,000-20,000)

When did you first travel to Asia?

While I was in graduate school studying Asian art, my husband had a sabbatical, and we took it in Japan. Before that, I’d visited Japan once or twice, but living there allowed me to immerse myself in the culture. I also went to China for several weeks, very soon after the country had opened up to the West. After I opened my gallery in Boston, I returned to Japan regularly looking for material.

What types of objects did you buy on these trips?

My interests have always been with traditional Japanese art, not art that was created for export from Japan. This covers a time span from prehistoric ceramics right through to the early formation of the Meiji period. At this time, a lot of artists still created traditional paintings and ceramics. After 1868, Japan opened up to the rest of the world, and I found that material after this time had too much Western style and influence for my taste. I stuck with early ceramics, Buddhist art, and paintings, as well as some folk art.

Did you keep any great finds for yourself?

I decided that it seemed counter-intuitive for me to keep my best things as I bought them over the years. If you do that, clients notice. They say, “She’s got the best things, and I want those.” To avoid this conflict of interest, I decided to collect post-war Japanese art. I’ve built up an impressive collection of post-war Japanese oil on canvas, etchings, modern etchings, and sculpture.

What made you decide to start that collection?

In the early days when I had just opened my gallery, I would go to auctions in New York, and I would see these post-war Japanese paintings. They were beautiful, and nobody was buying them. So I started buying them, and developed a whole new area of interest.

It was great fun, but I do think that out of all of the antiquities I found, I probably should have kept one or two!

Is there a particular object that you really regret selling?

Yes, it was a magnificent hand scroll by one of the great artists of the Rimpa school named Honami Kōetsu, featuring gorgeous calligraphy, paintings, and gold and silver. I wish I had kept that. But it’s very hard to keep merchandise like that and keep a business going.

When you give seminars or speak about Asian Art, what is your favorite topic?

I like to do a survey of Japanese art starting from very old prehistoric art and early ceramics through the influence of China coming in. There isn’t much exposure in the West to Asian art or culture. I’m so thrilled to have learned about these different cultures and to now have the opportunity to share my knowledge and experiences.

The next Asian Works of Art Auction will take place April 20th and 21st in Boston.

Meet the Experts: Judith Dowling, Director of Asian Works of Art, Part I

Skinner recently welcomed Judith Dowling as Director of the Asian Works of Art department. How does one go from an interest in Asian art, to owning a gallery, to running a department at Skinner Auction House? Here is her story.

The Freedom and Beauty of Japanese Art

Judith Dowling, Director of Asian Works of Art at Skinner, Inc.

How did you first become interested in Asian Art?

The love for Asian works of art has been a part of me for a long time. When I was a young teenager, I went to the museum and I saw calligraphy for the first time. I thought it was beautiful. And then when I was told that it was a written language, I was fascinated.

Later on, I worked as assistant to the registrar at the Rhode Island School of Design, and became friendly with the curator of the Asian Collection, the late Elizabeth Casey. They had a fabulous collection of Japanese No robes and woodblock prints, among other things. I followed up on that experience working for a gallery in Boston. I was very interested in Asian items at this point, trying to read on my own and conducting my own research. Finally, I decided to go back to school. I received my Masters degree in East Asian studies from Harvard University.

Do you prefer Japanese or Chinese art?

I like both Chinese and Japanese art, but after I studied the difference between the two, I decided that I probably liked Japanese art better. It appealed to me more. Japanese art was heavily influenced by China throughout its history, but it had more freedom. It wasn’t as canonized or strict.

So I studied Japanese art, and I also studied the language and the culture. However, I didn’t want to be a scholar. So I thought how can I handle these objects I love without teaching or working at a museum? I decided to open my own gallery.

What was it like starting your own business?

They say in the first five years of a business you know if you’re going to fail or succeed. You have to be persistent and know that you’re going to have failures. The only way to learn is to just make the best of it and move forward. The Judith Dowling Asian Art Gallery on Charles Street in Boston remained open for over 20 years, so I’d say it was a success.

What are your plans for the Skinner Asian department?

Ko-Imari Dish, featured in the Asian Works of Art auction on April 20-21 in Boston (Lot 59, Est. $800-1,200)

I’m terribly excited to find more Japanese and Korean material to bring into the Skinner Asian Works of Art department. It’s a great time to buy Japanese or Korean art if you know where to look and can find the best material.

Right now, the market is focused on China, and the Chinese government and upper middle class are buying art all over the world.

Skinner plays a role because of the wealth of our area, where historically, a lot of material came in from the China trade. Our recent Asian Art – Marlborough auction did so well, I think, because even though many of the items were not masterpieces, they were beautifully executed. There’s a real market for that.

I’m also looking forward to the next Asian Works of Art Auction, taking place April 20th and 21st in Boston. This lovely early enamel plate from Japan will be one of the works featured in the sale.

Continue reading about Judith Dowling’s favorite objects, from antiquities to post-war Japanese art.

A Week in the Life of an Antiques Appraiser: My Top 5 Finds

K'ang-hsi Period Cloisonne Bottle-Form Vase, China, 1662-1722, Estimate $10,000-15,000

Have you ever watched Antiques Roadshow on PBS? As a senior art and antiques appraiser at Skinner, many of my days are a lot like the reality TV show.

I spend considerable time meeting with prospective consignors at our Marlborough and Boston auction galleries and viewing the antiques, collectibles & fine art brought in for an auction evaluation.

I’m always surprised by what I see. Items run the gamut, spanning centuries, continents and values. The stories behind these antiques are often fascinating.

Over the past few weeks, many interesting items have come through our doors. Here are five of my favorites that I’ve taken in on consignment.

Keep an eye out for these antiques in future Skinner auctions:

1. K’ang-hsi Period Cloisonné Bottle-Form Vase, China, 1662-1722

The fluidity of the floral pattern and elegant form made this piece stand out from the Bohemian glass, Limoges china and other items on the viewing table. Purchased at auction in New York in 1911, this vase will be featured in our April Asian Works of Art auction after 100 years off the market. Auction estimate: $10,000-15,000.

2. Norse-revival Silver Covered Presentation Cup & Cover, by the Norwegian silversmith Henrik Moller

Combining the Arts & Crafts styling of the period with scenes from the Viking Sagas, mythical beasts and dense interlaced stylized foliage, this cup has a fantastical look that would fit any décor from Arts & Crafts to Goth. Auction estimate: $4,000-6,000.

3. Miniature Portrait on Ivory of a Gentleman

The profile is dashing in a Darcy-like way, and a curious note accompanying the piece mentions a Margaret Churchill, duchess of Marlborough, and H. Francis Blagge whose initials are engraved on the reverse of the token. Auction estimate: $400-600.

4. Pair of Minton Pate-sur-Pate and parcel-gilt decorated cabinet plates

Signed by the artist Albion Birks, and painted in the slip technique imported from France in the late 19^th century, the plates are elegant with scenes of Cupid and gilded foliage. Minton saw great success with this line of wares at the turn of the 20^th century. Auction estimate: $1,000-1,500.

5. Art Deco Fada Radio

From the model line L-56 first introduced in 1939 and made of Catalin, a brand-name resin similar to, but not identical to Bakelite, the radio’s yellow color isn’t as rare as those incorporating multi-color combinations but it should appeal to both art deco collectors and radio enthusiasts alike. Auction estimate: $300-500.

Rare & Beautiful Huanghuali Furniture

Lot 526: Pair of Low-back Huanghuali Armchairs, 17th/18th century, Auctioned for $118,500

The chairs pictured here sold for $118,500 in the December 2011 Asian Works of Art auction. Why such a high price? They’re made of one of the world’s rarest and most desirable woods: huanghuali.

A member of the rosewood family, huanghuali stands for rarity, beauty and in today’s Chinese furniture market, high prices. It is believed that there are less than 10,000 pieces of huanghuali furniture left in the world. Because the wood is nearing extinction, and is now a protected species, supply is very limited. Matched with the rapidly increasing demand for Chinese antiques, prices for huanghuali furniture have skyrocketed over the past five years.

Lot 515: Square Huanghuali Table, China, 17th/18th century, Auctioned for $59,250

Huanghuali is possibly the hottest category of furniture in the world today.

Historically, Hainan Island appears to be the main source of the wood, although it is believed that there are similar species in North Vietnam, Indochina, Guangxi and other islands of the South China Sea. Dating to the mid-Ming period, huanghuali furniture is believed to have been prized by the very wealthy, the upper classes and officials.

An exceptional collection of huanghuali furniture sold in our most recent auction of Asian Works of Art held in early December. With the current strength of the Asian market, we anticipated heavy competition and high prices. Sure enough, exuberant internet bidding, ten telephone lines, absentee bids and of course, participation from those in attendance, led to impressive results.

Distinguishing Features of Huanghuali Furniture

1. Color

The color of huanghuali ranges from golden-yellow to reddish-brown.

Originally, the wood was known only as “huali,” which means “pear tree flower.” “Huang” (yellow) was added to describe the surface of old huali wood that has mellowed over years of exposure to light.

2. Scent

Huanghuali has a sweet fragrance that distinguishes this wood from hongmu, a similar-looking but pungent-smelling wood.

3. Grain

The finest examples have a beautiful grain that can form abstract or even figural patterns on the surface.

Lot 518: Pair of Huanghuali Stools, China, 18th century, Auctioned for $112,575

Chinese Ceramics: Discover the Most Beautiful Glazes Ever Produced

Guest post by Judith Dowling, Consultant, Asian Works of Art at Skinner

Lot 664: Ch’ing pai ware small covered jar, vivid blue glaze on buff body, molded flower on lid and ribbed body, Est. $200-300

The news is all over the art world: the Chinese art market is red hot. In the past year, Chinese paintings both old and new, porcelains, jades, and many other fine pieces have set new auction records, often selling for millions of dollars. And the trend shows no signs of slowing.

Where did this trend come from? Wealthy Chinese, seeking the best and most coveted pieces for their collections, are searching around the world for art. They’re buying from dealers and going to auctions in Boston, New York, London, Hong Kong, Beijing, and even smaller country auctions. They’re creating a volatile market which leaves us all wondering what will happen next.

How do you buy and compete in such a market? It’s easy: buy what others are not buying and go against the trend. Choose something that is quiet now, but could easily gain popularity in the coming months or years.

I think Sung dynasty (960-1279) ceramics is a collecting area deserving of more exploration. The quiet, subtle beauty and simple, elegant shapes of these pieces appeal to the urban middle classes, scholars, and connoisseurs of fine ceramics.

Artisans created a wide variety of fine ceramics during the Sung dynasty, offering many choices to the collector of Chinese ceramics. It is not only the beauty that makes these pieces compelling to a collector, but also the high technical achievement, inventiveness, and quality of production that offers the collector a great deal to satisfy his curiosity.

In my opinion, some of the most beautiful glazes ever produced belong to Sung ceramics: the gorgeous, blue of Ch’ing Pai, the rich, thick blue of Chun, the blue-green celadon of Lung Chuan, the persimmon of Yao Chou, the black of Tzu Chou, the splashed amber of Chi Chou and the pure, white luster of Ting.

Skinner’s December Asian Works of Art auction in Boston, from December 1st through 3rd 2011, will offer over 150 exquisite pieces from each of these kilns. I hope you will be as moved by their beauty as I am.

Which of these ceramics would you most love to take home? Where would you put it in your house?