BLUE AND WHITE CHINESE DRAGON JAR SELLS FOR $7.66 MILLION (£4.8M) AT BONHAMS
A blue and white porcelain Dragon jar sold for $7,658,000 in the Fine Asian Works of Art sale on Monday December 13th at Bonhams & Butterfields in San Francisco. The 360-lot sale brought more than $19 million with the vast majority of the lots fetching multiples of their estimates.
The excitement in the standing-room-only saleroom was palpable, as determined bidders on the telephone and in the audience fought to win the much-coveted jar. Brooke Sivo, the sale’s principal auctioneer and a 22-year veteran of the art world, expertly guided the bidding along until it culminated in the record price.
There was much anticipation and deliberation over the Dragon jar. Following careful pre-sale research and consultation, the firm described the jar conservatively as Qianlong Mark, Late Qing/Republic Period and gave it a pre-sale estimate of $10,000-15,000 USD.
Ultimately, two key bidders backed their own judgment and the Dragon jar sold for a remarkable $7,658,000 USD.
Dessa Goddard, Vice President and Director, Asian Works of Art, commented, “The jar proved to be a puzzle for several clients with whom I spoke who all declared it to be unique. Without a consensus of opinion we felt obliged to be cautious with our attribution. Needless to say, we are elated that the jar achieved such a spectacular price. Its sale provided a fantastic slice of auction drama that our clients and staff will remember for many years to come.”
The blue and white porcelain jar measures an impressive 14 inches high and is decorated with bands of plantain leaves, waves, and a cloud-collar at the waisted neck and broad shoulders. The sides are densely painted with six meticulously rendered five-clawed dragons portrayed emerging from crashing waves and flying amid stylized clouds and flames.
Additional highlights from the sale included: a gilt copper alloy and colored glass overlay model of an elephant,19th/20th Century (sold for $1,834,000 USD); a set of eighteen carved ivory luohan, 19th Century (sold for $506,000 USD); a pair of hanging scroll paintings titled “Morning Glories and Gourds” by Qi Baishi (sold for $458,000 USD); arare carved rhinoceros horn libation cup, 17th/18th Century (sold for $386,000 USD) and a set of carved ivory eighteen lohan, 19th Century (sold for $338,000 USD).
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street, and Knightsbridge, and a further five throughout the UK. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Boston in the USA; Toronto, Canada; and France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Dubai. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 57 specialist areas. By the end of 2009, Bonhams had become UK market leaders in ten key specialist collecting areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, go to www.bonhams.com
