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Newsworthy Items

Fine ceramics bowls sell for over six times high estimate

Sotheby’s Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art in London on the 13th May 2009 brought in a respectable £3,886,175, selling 64% by lot and 73% by value. Christie’s Fine Chinese Ceramics and World of Art held a day earlier in London raised even more - £6,371,375. The top lot sold at Christies was this pair of fine and rare imperial doucai chicken bowls that sold for an extraordinary £1,721,250 – well over its estimate of £150,000 - £250,000.

Christies_pair_of_fine_and_rare_imperial_doucai_chicken_bowls

Christie’s Images Ltd. 2009

A collection of ceramics made by the art deco inspired artist Clarice Cliff sold for £220,000 on the 18th March 2009. The 100 piece collection included vases, jugs and pots, the highlight of which was a triangular vase, Red Café, which sold for £90,000.

An important and rare blue and white basin from the Yongle period (1403-1425)
Christie’s Images Ltd. 2009

There were varied results for the ceramic auctions held in March. Sotheby’s New York had somewhat disappointing results with only 58.9% sold by lot and 68.4% by value. Christie’s had more success with their New York sale with 77% sold by lot and 91% by value. The highlight of the season was an important and rare blue and white basin from the Yongle period (1403-1425) which sold for $2.3 million, far above its estimate of $400,000 - $600,000.

Although there has historically been a demand for ceramics that exceeds supply, causing substantial increases in value, there is no guarantee that this will be the case in the future. Demand for ceramics of a particular area or type may be affected by regional or world trends and tastes.

Emotional Assets | Management & Research

Ceramics