ALAMEDA, Calif. – Michaan’s Fine Asian Works of Art auction on Dec. 15 closed 2013 with a bang, grossing $1,949,260 with an approximate 78 percent sell-through. A Qi Baishi painting titled Rabbits Under Osmanthus Tree (Tian Xiang) soared to $383,500 (lot 5243, $50,000-$70,000). LiveAuctioneers.com provided Internet live bidding.

The quintessential work from the painting master of one black and one white rabbit huddling behind an Osmanthus branch was secured by a Shanghainese floor bidder at over five times the high estimate.

“Qi Baishi remains one of the most highly regarded names in the Asian antiquities marketplace; a definitive artist preferred by many collectors. The quality of the painting as well as the acquisition from Mr. and Mrs. Lt. Gen. Yu Pingtung made it an absolutely stellar piece at auction,” said Harry Huang, Asian art specialist at Michaan’s.

Rabbits Under Osmanthus Tree (Tian Xiang) set the stage for a lengthy list of Asian art works to achieve hefty figures. Zhang Daqian’s skillful brush painting titled Bamboo surpassed its $40,000-$60,000 estimate to finish at $118,000 (lot 5245). An album collection of 10 paintings of various insects and flowers followed suit, selling for over eight times projected estimates for $44,250 (lot 5237, $3,000-$5,000). Highlighting the selection of presented scrolls is Zhao Shaoang’s Birds and Flowers, which more than tripled estimates, as it sold for $26,550 (lot 5246, $5,000-$7,000). Fan paintings were also a hit with bidders, with groupings from the Reynold Tom Collection (lots 5241 and 5242) continuing their success at auction (lot 5236, $1,200-$1,800, sold for $16,520; lot 5242, $2,000-$3,000, sold for $14,160; and lot 5241, $2,500-$3,500, sold for $11,800). An offering of 16 woodblock prints by Japanese artist Utagawa Hiroshige also dazzled at a price point over eight times the estimations, selling for $10,030 (lot 5331, $800-$1,200).

A fine coral carving stood at the forefront of the successful decorative lots at auction (lot 5200). The 19th century figural group of Guanyin flanked by two attendants was of a unique branching form and creative composition, proving to be quite an unusual and artistic find. Bidding was fierce from all directions for the standing carving, eventually narrowing down to a lively floor battle. A Bay Area bidder placed the winning bid which culminated in a final sale of $47,200, over five times the given high estimate ($7,000-$9,000).

Rounding out the decorative lots in the sale was a beautifully enameled Chinese export silver punch bowl that realized a price of $29,500 (lot 5161, $4,000-$6,000) as well as a small gilt-silver box adorned with gemstone embellishments and bat and butterfly appliqués (lot 5169, $3,000-$5,000, sold for $22,420). A tripod censer bearing a Jiajing mark stood at the forefront of the cloisonné pieces in the sale (lot 5153, $5,000-$7,000, sold for $23,600) and a cylindrical ivory brush pot from the late Qing Dynasty sold for over five times its given estimates (lot 5186, $1,500-$2,000, sold for $10,030).

Demand for period jades was at a fever pitch, as 12 individual lots sold from anywhere from to to over seven times given estimates. Top sellers included a lot of four 19th century carved bangles that realized a price of $35,400 (lot 5033, $5,000-$7,000), a GIA certified lotus motif pendant for $29,500 (lot 5064, $10,000-$15,000), a white jade carving of a horse at $26,550 (lot 5058, $10,000-$15,000), an archaistic bi-disc for $20,060 (lot 5014, $4,000-$6,000) and a pair of pig carvings from the Han dynasty that amazingly sold for over seven times their estimates (lot 5010) for $15,340.

Chinese porcelains were yet another category to produce fruitful numbers. An outstanding lot was found in a set of 12 famille rose porcelain plaques inset into hanging wood panels. The pieces were listed at an estimate of $4,000-$6,000 and managed to sell for over five times the figures at $32,450 (lot 5269). Additional selections from the Reynold Tom Collection followed, with a pair of famille rose food containers achieving a price over eight times the estimate (lot 5294, $2,000-$3,000, sold for $26,550) and a large, vibrant Doucai charger from the estate that sold for $23,600 (lot 5264, $3,000-$5,000). Finishing the list of top porcelain successes is a pair of grisaille decorated planters (lot 5265, $2,000-$3,000, sold for $17,700), a Reynold Tom Collection famille rose jardiniere (lot 5272, $3,000-$5,000, sold for $11,210) and an ovoid form vase of the Republic Period (lot 5279, $2,000-$3,000, sold for $10,620).

Noteworthy pieces from a range of categories added to the substantial list of auction fortune. A pair of small huanghuali cabinets with intricate latticework realized a price of $38,350 (lot 5206, $3,000-$5,000). Sales from the religious art section saw gilt-bronze figures take off in the form of an eight-armed bodhisattva (lot 5321, $20,000-$30,000), which sold for $32,450, and a Phineus Schwartz Collection depiction of Vajravarahi that more than doubled projections (lot 5308, $3,000-$5,000) which sold for $12,980. A 19th century amber and glass court necklace astounded observers, as it sold for over nine times the given estimates at $29,500 (lot 5072, $2,000-$3,000) and a finely embroidered silk dragon robe tripled estimations at $18,880 (lot 5222, $4,000-$6,000). In addition, eight lots of snuff bottles significantly climbed past projections, with a grouping of three enameled glass pieces from the late Qing Dynasty topping the heap (lot 5113, $900-$1,300, sold for $8,850).

For general information call Michaan’s Auctions at 510-740-0220 ext. 0 or e-mail info@michaans.com.

Click here to view the fully illustrated catalog for this sale, complete with prices realized.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE