Prices for Chinese antiques ‘astonishing’ at Clars Aucton Gallery
Selling for over 60 times its high estimate, this celadon oval plaque lot sold to a Taiwanese collector for an astonishing $94,800. Image courtesy of Clars Auction Gallery.
Anyone tracking Asian antiques buying at auctions around the world is aware of prices escalating, a trend that’s been developing over the past year. Clars has seen this grow steadily in their own sales with an increased number of Internet and phone bidders from both Mainland China and Taiwan.
“Astonishing” was the word Redge Martin, president of Clars, used to describe the prices realized on their Asian lots at their March sale. While non-Asian offerings, like a Jensen sterling flatware set which sold for $18,960, and a Continental Gothic Revival tall-case clock, which earned $10,000, were solidly within estimate, the Asian pieces went beyond over-the-top.
Expected to sell for $1,500 on the high side was lot 6590, a well-carved Chinese celadon jade oval plaque measuring just 6 inches high. “There was absolutely no reason to expect this piece to do what it did,” said Martin. Even Clars expert Asian specialists could not believe it when the price escalated in heated bidding to an “astonishing” final selling price of $94,800 going to a Taiwanese collector. Sixty times it’s high estimate – that might be a new record for Clars.
And the trend continued throughout the sale. Lot 6723, an Asian celadon glazed porcelain jardinière on a footed wood stand, measuring 14 inches high, came to the sale with an estimate of $500 to $1,000. Going for a mere 14 times its high estimate, it sold for $14,220. This was followed almost immediately by a set of eight Chinese tinted ivory figural carvings of the Eight Daoist immortals, which sold for $18,960.
To date for their fiscal year, Clars Auction Galley is over 50 percent ahead of this time last year with Asian results contributing substantially to these numbers. “While we have always been strong in the Asian category,” said Martin, “it’s astonishing how it keeps increasing.
“It’s not just Clars,” he added. “This trend is happening at many auction houses around the world. We will just keep watching how this category continues to develop.”
Back to the non-Asian offering in the sale, jewelry also performed very well with a 2.07- carat brilliant diamond ring selling for $15, 405 and a demantoid garnets by the yard chain necklace earning $10,665.
Complete results of the March sale are available at www.clars.com.
For details contact Clars Auction Gallery at (888) 339-7600, or e-mail info@clars.com.
Click here to view the fully illustrated catalogs for this sale, complete with prices realized.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
This Jensen sterling flatware service for 12 in the Pyramid pattern sold for $18,960. Image courtesy of Clars Auction Gallery.
Going for over 14 times its high estimate, this lovely celadon jardinière sold for $14,220. Image courtesy of Clars Auction Gallery.
Continuing the unbelievable prices on Asian lots offered, this set of Chinese tinted ivory figural carvings of the Eight Daoist immortals sold for $18,960. Image courtesy of Clars Auction Gallery.
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