Sixteen works by Zhang Daqian were sold from the collection, including a number of pieces that illuminate his close relationship with his former students. In Invitation to Visit, Zhang Daqian invites Tang Hung to join him in the mountains depicted within the landscape. The work, which sold today for $567,000 (estimate $200/300,000) is inscribed: “Last fall, I acquired this striking view of the Northern Mojie Mountain and thought how pleasant it would be to have a dwelling here. I did not have a chance to materialize this vision, I painted it instead. Would you, my very dear friend [Tang Hung], like to join me here to enjoy the serenity of this land?”

Xian Fang, Head of Sotheby’s Classical Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy Sales in New York, commented: “Even in a very selective market, we were able to source rare and extraordinary pieces from private collections worldwide to meet buyers’ demand. The very successful sale of the Tang Hung and Fung Bi-Che Collection proved once again that North America is still an important source for collectors to find pieces that are fresh-to-the-market."

FINE CLASSICAL CHINESE PAINTINGS & CALLIGRAPHY
Auction Total $5.7 Million

The various-owner auction of Fine Classical Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy was led by Wang Yuanqi’s Landscape of Yushan, a hanging scroll dating to the 1689 that brought $1.2 million (estimate $1/1.5 million). The work had remained in the Roy and Marilyn Papp Collection – one of the finest private collections of Chinese paintings remaining in the United States.

Works by Zhang Daqian continued to perform well throughout the various-owner sale, including his Dancing Lotus that sold for $375,000 (estimate $220/400,000). The piece appeared at auction from the collection of Carl and Lena Ma – as an airline executive, Mr. Ma met and assisted Zhang Daqian in transporting his paintings around the world. In gratitude of their friendship, the artist invited Mr. Ma and his family to his studio where, in 1973, he gifted and dedicated the work to his friend.

SATURDAY AT SOTHEBY'S: ASIAN ART
Auction Total $3.2 Million

The Asia Week sale series drew to a close over the weekend, with 400 works in total sold across our Saturday at Sotheby's auction. Top prices were commanded by a mix of furniture, porcelain, paintings and decorative arts, led by a number of pieces that soared exponentially beyond expectations: a 'Zitan' and Hardwood Tabletop Cabinet dating to the Qing dynasty, 19th century, achieved $200,000 (pictured left, estimate $6/8,0000); a Landscape attributed to Huang Binhong brought $187,500 (estimate $3/5,000); and a 'Ru'-Type Vase dating to the Qing dynasty, 19th century, fetched $122,500 (estimate $4/6,000).