Paris – Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr held yesterday its first Art de la Chine sale in Paris (13 June) curated by Caroline Schulten, Head of Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Department in Paris. The sale, part of the Asian week in Paris, made a total of €5.2million and was led by a magnificent and very rare large wood figure of Bodhisattva Guanyin made under the Jin dynasty (1215-1234), formerly in the collection of Paul Houo-Ming-Tse (1880-1949) which sold for €2,589,400, three times its pre-sale estimate. The figure first sold in Paris in 1932 and has remained in a French family collection since. Its monumental size is reminiscent of the bodhisattva from the Rousset Collection which sold at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr last October in Paris.
Other Highlights of the sale included:
From left to right : an important and rare gilt-copper alloy figure of Shakyamuni Buddha, Khasa Malla Kingdom, 13th/14th century sold for €508,400, a gilt-bronze figure of green Tara, 15th century sold for €457,600, an important archaic bronze ritual food vessel, Ya Chou Fu Xin Gui, late Shang dynasty/early Western Zhou dynasty, ca. 11th century BC sold for €279,800.
- An important and rare gilt-copper alloy figure of Shakyamuni Buddha, Khasa Malla Kingdom, 13th/14th century sold for €508,400, six times its pre-sale estimate.
- An exquisite, finely cast large gilt-bronze figure of green Tara, 15th century sold for €457,600, seven times its pre-sale estimate. The Mother of all Buddhas’, a Bodhisattva of compassion and action, and important protector is shown seated in the posture posture of ease, with the left leg folded in the contemplative position and the right leg stretched out and ready to spring into action.
- A rare gilt-bronze figure of a Bodhisattva, Kangxi (1662-1722) sold for €317,900, six times its pre-sale estimate.
- An important archaic bronze ritual food vessel, Ya Chou Fu Xin Gui, late Shang dynasty/early Western Zhou dynasty, circa 11th century BC sold for €279,800, four times its pre-sale estimate.
Asaph Hyman, Global Head, Chinese Art, said: “I am delighted with the strong result which follows the outstanding prices achieved for the Rousset Collection, further establishing Bonhams presence as a leading auction house in Europe”.
Caroline Schulten, Head of Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Department in Paris said: “It is a great honour to have been entrusted with this exceptional piece. Fresh-to-the-market with an early provenance, it generated strong demand. Overall, collectors recognized the quality and the rarity of the top pieces offered in this first dedicated Chinese art sale in Bonhams Paris.”
