It’s no secret that auctions are big business. In 2014, sales of fine art alone amounted to nearly $8 billion. And in May, records were set at Christie’s for the most expensive sculpture ever sold at auction, Giacometti’s L’Homme au doigt, at $141,285,000, and for the most expensive work of art altogether, Picasso’s Les Femmes d’Alger (Version O), at an extraordinary $179,365,000. In fact, business is only getting bigger—not just at the high end, where the numbers keep climbing, but at every level and around the world, as houses expand their online services and outreach to younger buyers. Hundreds of important players with expertise that extends beyond art and antiques to design, collectibles, numismatics, jewelry, and the fast-growing luxury segment make for a vibrant—and complex—industry.
In a special summer issue of Art+Auction, which will be published in installments on ARTINFO this month, we bring you the information you need to navigate this vast market. We’ve assembled the top 250 houses, along with some of their most notable sales, as well as insider takes from 50 CEOs and specialists on the past year and the changes ahead. Below you’ll find the list of the best auction houses of Asia in 2015. To see other installments from the special issue, click here.
CHINA
BEIJING CHENGXUAN AUCTIONS
Beijing
PERSONNEL: Zuo Jinghua, chairman; Gao Hong, general manager
ESTABLISHED: 2004
SPECIALTIES: Chinese paintings and calligraphy, ceramics, works of art, coins, stamps
NOTABLE LOTS: Common Pain, 2009, by Tu Hongtao, $60,000 (est. $29–43,000), from the Modern and Contemporary Art Spring auction, May 17, 2015. Picnic on the Meadow No. 2, 2006, by Wei Jia, $56,000 (est. $35–45,000), from the Chinese Oil Painting & Sculptures Spring auction, May 16, 2014. Two Horses, 1947, by Ma Jin, $37,000 (est. $4,700– 6,300), from the Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy (Part I) Autumn auction, October 30, 2012.
CONTACT: ichengxuan.com, info@chengxuan.com, +86 10 5887 0808
BEIJING COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL AUCTION CO. LTD.
Beijing
PERSONNEL: Dong Guoqiang, chairman and president
ESTABLISHED: 2005
SPECIALTIES: Chinese classic and modern fine art, Chinese antiques
NOTABLE LOTS: The Flute Player, by Fan Tchunpi, $993,000 (est. $628–785,000), from the 2012 Spring Auction, Oil Painting and Sculpture, June 3, 2012. Landscape in Autumn, by Qi Baishi,
$1.8 million (est. $944,000– 1.3 million), from the 2011 Autumn Auction, Modern Chinese Painting and Calligraphy, December 2, 2011. Nude, by Liu Haisu, $1.7 million (est. $877,000– 1.2 million), from the 2010 Spring Auction, Oil Painting and Sculpture, June 6, 2010.
CONTACT: council.com.cn, council@council.com.cn, +86 10 8440 0975
BEIJING HANHAI AUCTION
Beijing
ESTABLISHED: 1994
SPECIALTIES: Chinese ceramics, Asian art, decorative arts
NOTABLE LOTS: Smoke, by Dong Xinbin, $12,000 (est. $6,500– 9,800), from the Chinese Contemporary Painting sale, June 26, 2015. Hermits, 1993, by Fan Yang, $4,700 ($4,000), and Drunk-heart, 2012, by Zang Yuehua, $41,000 ($36,000), from the Chinese Painting and Calligraphy sale, March 15, 2015.
CONTACT: hanhai.net, hanhai1994@sina.com, +86 10 6318 2926
BEIJING JIUGE AUCTIONS
Beijing and Shanghai
ESTABLISHED: 2004
SPECIALTIES: Chinese paintings, calligraphy, porcelain
NOTABLE LOTS: Heavenly Capital Peak, by Lui Hai Su, $33,000; Nude, by Chang Shuhong, $592,000; Fruit, by Yang Feiyun, $477,000, all from the 2010 Spring Auctions, June 22, 2010.
CONTACT: jgauc.com, office@jgauc.com, +86 10 5869 2808
CHINA GUARDIAN AUCTIONS
Beijing
PERSONNEL: Hu Yanyan, director and president; Wang Hui, director and vice president
ESTABLISHED: 1993
SPECIALTIES: Chinese antiques and art
NOTABLE LOTS:Boy and Cattle, by Li Keran, $336,000 (est. $55–87,000), from the 30th China Guardian Quarterly Auctions, Chinese Painting and Calligraphy II, June 18, 2012. Landscapes, by Qi Baishi, $6 million (est. $2.1– 3.4 million), from the China Guardian Hong Kong 2012 Autumn Auctions, Chinese Painting and Calligraphy from the Four Seas, October 7, 2012. Flowers, Birds, Figures, and Landscape, by Xie Zhiliu and Pan Boying, $2.2 million (est. $1.9–3.6 million), from the China Guardian 2013 Spring Auctions, Grand View: Chinese Painting Highlight, May 10, 2013.
CONTACT: cguardian.com, mail@cguardian.com, +86 10 6518 2315
DUOYUNXUAN AUCTIONS
Shanghai
PERSONNEL: Zhu Junbo, founding general manager
ESTABLISHED: 1992
SPECIALTIES: Chinese paintings, oil paintings, rare books, porcelain, jade, antiques, coins, special stamps
CONTACT: duoyunxuan.com.cn, +86 21 6122 9066
HOSANE AUCTION
Shanghai
PERSONNEL: Zhao Yong, chairman
SPECIALTIES: Chinese paintings and calligraphy, oil paintings, sculpture, postage stamps, banknotes, coins
NOTABLE LOTS: A silver dollar, China, Republican era, $167,000 ($49,000), from the 2015 Spring Auction, June 6, 2015. A pair of lemon-yellow glazed dishes, Yongzheng mark and period, $38,000 (est. $33–49,000), and a carved jade square Ding vessel, Qing Dynasty, $30,000 (est. $26–43,000), from the 2015 Spring Auction, June 20, 2015.
CONTACT: hosane.com, hs@hosane.com, +86 21 2328 6888
MACAU CHUNG SHUN INTERNATIONAL AUCTIONS
Macau
PERSONNEL: Kou Vai, president
SPECIALTIES: Paintings, Buddhist statuary, porcelain, jade works of art
CONTACT: macaucsa.com.cn, macaucsa@yahoo.com.hk, +86 853 2833 0583
POLY INTERNATIONAL AUCTION
Beijing
PERSONNEL: Chen Lingchu, director Wang Li, general manager
ESTABLISHED: 2005
SPECIALTIES: Chinese antiquities, Chinese modern and contemporary oil paintings, Chinese modern paintings and calligraphy, Chinese ancient paintings and calligraphy
NOTABLE LOTS: A teapot by Kong Chunhua, $53,000 (est. $33–41,000), from the Beijing Poly 2015 Spring Auctions, June 5, 2015. An emerald and diamond ring, $225,000 (est. $196–294,000), from the Beijing Poly 2015 Spring Auctions, June 6, 2015. A turquoise vase, Qianlong period, $2.3 million (est. $2–3.6 million), from the 2014 Autumn Auctions, December 3, 2014.
CONTACT: polypm.com.cn, service@polyauction.com, +86 10 6408 2277
RAVENELINTERNATIONAL ART GROUP
Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai, China; Taipei, Taiwan
PERSONNEL: Michelle Lin, president, admininstration; Flora Fu, president, art auction division
ESTABLISHED: 1999
SPECIALTIES: Modern and contemporary Asian art, Chinese works of art, jewelry, jadeite, fine wines
NOTABLE LOTS: Lumière captive III, 1992, by Chu Teh-Chun, $155,000 (est. $110–168,000); 19.12.66, 1966, by Zao Wou-Ki, $2.6 million (est. $2.5–2.9 million); Keep out, 2013, by Yuan Yuan, $139,000 (est. $71,000– 110,000), all from the Ravenel Spring Auction, May 31, 2015.
CONTACT: ravenelart.com, +852 2889 0859
RONGBAOZHAI (SHANGHAI) AUCTION
Shanghai
ESTABLISHED: 1894
SPECIALTIES: Chinese modern and contemporary art, calligraphy
CONTACT: art139.com, rbzshjy@art139.com, +86 21 6586 7799
SUNGARI INTERNATIONAL
Beijing
PERSONNEL: Liu Ting, chairman
ESTABLISHED: 1995
SPECIALTIES: Chinese paintings and calligraphy, antique curios, vintage wines, oil paintings, sculpture, jewelry
NOTABLE LOTS: Maiden, 1997, by Zhu Xinjian, $374,000 (est. $130–195,000); Crane Dance, 2005, by Yu Hui, $47,000 (est. $33–41,000); and Calligraphy, by Ouyang Zhongshi, $37,000 (est. $20–29,000), all from the Sungari 2014 Autumn Auctions—Contemporary Ink Session, December 6, 2014.
CONTACT: sungari1995.com, hw@sungari1995.com, +86 10 6415 6669
XILINGYINSHE AUCTION
Hangzhou
ESTABLISHED: 2004
SPECIALTIES: Chinese paintings and calligraphy, carved seals and inkstones, oil paintings and sculpture, contemporary carved jade, rare books, wine
NOTABLE LOTS: Flowers, 1917, by Wu Changshuo, $1.1 million (est.$231–385,000), from the XiLingYinShe 2011 Spring Auctions, Chinese Painting and Calligraphy, July 16, 2011. Living in the Mountain, 1947, by Zhang Daqian, $3.4 million (est. $900,000–1.5 million), from the XiLingYinShe 2010 Autumn Art Auctions, Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy of the Shanghai Painting School, December 12, 2010. Birthday Peaches, 1914, by Wu Changshuo, $671,000 (est. $219– 366,000), from the XiLingYinShe 2009 Autumn Art Auction, Modern and Contemporary Chinese Painting and Calligraphy I, December 18, 2009.
CONTACT: new.xlysauc.com, xlpm@xlysauc.com, +86 571 878 96778
INDIA
BID & HAMMER
Bangalore and New Delhi
PERSONNEL: M. Maher Dada, chairman and managing director
ESTABLISHED: 2007
SPECIALTIES: Modern and contemporary Indian art, old Tanjore paintings, ceramics, textiles, works of art, collectibles
CONTACT: bidandhammer.com, info@bidandhammer.com, +91 80 3202 9681
PUNDOLE’S
Mumbai
PERSONNEL: Khorshed Pundole, owner
ESTABLISHED: 1963
SPECIALTIES: Modern and contemporary Indian art
NOTABLE LOTS: Untitled, 1982, by Vasudeo S. Gaitonde, $2.7 million (est. $1.5–2.4 million), and Metascape, 1977, by Akbar Padamsee, $451,000 (est. $242–403,000), from the Indian Art: Classical to Modern sale, April 9, 2015. Untitled, 1958, by Maqbool Fida Husain, $380,000 (est. $248–513,000), from the Fine and Decorative Arts sale, August 26, 2014.
CONTACT: pundoles.com, khorshed@pundoles.com, +91 22 228 418 37
SAFFRONART
Mumbai and New Delhi, India; New York, U.S.; London, U.K.
PERSONNEL: Dinesh Vazirani, cofounder; Minal Vazirani, cofounder
ESTABLISHED: 2000
SPECIALTIES: Art advisory, art storage, private sales, appraisals and valuations
NOTABLE LOTS: Nari, 1998, by S. H. Raza, $138,000 (est. $98,000– 131,000), from the Discerning Eye: Bangalore Live Auction, April 16, 2015. Peripheral Nirvana, 2012, by N. S. Harsha, $90,000 (est. $115–148,000), from the Kochi Muziris Biennale Fundraiser Auction, April 8, 2015. Cape and Promonotory, 1977, by Jenhangir Sabavala, $334,000 (est. $197– 295,000), from the Modern Evening Sale, February, 13, 2015.
CONTACT: saffronart.com, info@saffronart.com, +91 22 2436 4113
JAPAN
AUGUR AUCTION
Tokyo
PERSONNEL: Takashi Yamamoto, director Mitsuhiro Kaji, director Ryoichi Matsuo, director
ESTABLISHED: 2006
SPECIALTIES: Contemporary art
NOTABLE LOTS: May 12, 1988, 1988, by On Kawara, $216,000 (est. $183–266,000); Untitled 87-11-23, 1987, by Chung Sang-Hwa, $89,000 (est. $5,000–10,000); and Infinity Dots, 2006, by Yayoi Kusama, $58,000 (est. $58–75,000), all from Sale 21, April 10, 2015.
CONTACT: augur.jp, caa@augur.jp, +81 3 5428 2285
ISE ART AUCTION
Tokyo
PERSONNEL: Nobuhiko Ise, founder
ESTABLISHED: 2008
SPECIALTIES: Fine Japanese and Asian arts and crafts
NOTABLE LOTS: Femme au chapeau, by Pierre Auguste Renoir, $959,000, and Mother, Child, Cat, mid 19th century, by Léonard Tsuguharu Foujita, $307,000, from the April 26, 2012, sale. Thirty- six Views of Mt. Fuji, by Katsushika Hokusai, $59,000, from the September 29, 2012, sale.
CONTACT: ise-art.co.jp, info@ise-art.co.jp, +81 3 6402 5333
MAINICHI ART AUCTION
Tokyo
PERSONNEL: Hiroaki Mochizuki, president and representative director
ESTABLISHED: 1973
SPECIALTIES: Fine art, decorative arts, Japanese antiques, jewelry, watches
CONTACT: my-auction.co.jp, art@my-auction.co.jp, +81 3 3527 7330
SHINWA ART AUCTION
Tokyo
PERSONNEL: Yoichiro Kurata, president
ESTABLISHED: 1989
SPECIALTIES: Impressionist paintings, Post-Impressionist paintings, European decorative arts, Japanese antiques, jewelry, watches, contemporary art, wine
NOTABLE LOTS: Mount Fuji, 1964, by Yokoyama Taikan, $644,000 (est. $248–371,000), from the Modern Art sale, November 16, 2012. Roses and Mimosa, by Umehara Ryuzaburo, $467,000 (est. $189–315,000), from the Modern Art auction, May 19, 2012. Woman Standing on Black Ground, 1914, by Kishida Ryusei, $436,000, from the Modern Art auction, March 24, 2012.
CONTACT: shinwa-art.com, english@shinwa-art.co.jp, +81 3 3520 0066
KOREA
SEOUL AUCTION
Seoul
ESTABLISHED: 1998
SPECIALTIES: Korean paintings and calligraphy, fine art, jewelry
NOTABLE LOTS: A white porcelain jar, Joseon period, $939,000, from the 136th Auction, June 6, 2015. Work, 1966, by Yoo Youngkuk, $386,000 (est. $314–494,000), from the 135th Modern and Contemporary Art Auction, March 9, 2015. Vajra guardians, carved and colored wood, $133,000 (est. $110–183,000), from the 134th Korean Traditional Art Auction, December 17, 2014.
CONTACT: seoulauction.com, info@seoulauction.com, +82 2 2075 4422
PHILIPPINES
SALCEDO AUCTIONS
Makati City
PERSONNEL: Karen Lerma, president
ESTABLISHED: 2010
SPECIALTIES: Fine Filipino art, watches, jewelry, furniture
NOTABLE LOTS: Pagoda, 1967, by Hernando R. Ocampo, $821,000 (est. $64–73,000); We Are Many, 1950, by Alfonso Ossorio, $265,000 ($17–19,000); and Dalagang Bukid, 1958, by Fernando Amorsolo, all from the March 2015 Important Philippine Art sale.
CONTACT: salcedoauctions.com, info@salcedoauctions.com, +63 2 659 4094
SINGAPORE
33 AUCTION
Singapore
PERSONNEL: Linda Ma, owner
ESTABLISHED: 2009
SPECIALTIES: Modern and contemporary Asian art
NOTABLE LOTS: Andong (Horse Cart), 1978, by Affandi, $281,000 (est. $200–280,000), and Never Lose Your Fighting Spirit, by Hendra Gunawan, $249,000 (est. $200–280,000), from the May 2014 Modern and Contemporary Asian Art sale. Border, 2002, by Xin Dongwang, $226,000 (est. $157–204,000), from the October 2014 Autumn sale.
CONTACT: 33auction.com, info@33auction.com, +65 6747 4555
BOROBUDUR FINE ART AUCTION
Singapore
PERSONNEL: John Andreas, CEO
ESTABLISHED: 2004
SPECIALTIES: Asian contemporary and modern art, Nordic design, watches, jewelry
CONTACT: borobudurauction.com, borobudur@singnet.com.sg, +65 6745 6066
LARASATI AUCTIONEERS
Singapore; Jakarta, Indonesia; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Hong Kong, China
PERSONNEL: Daniel Komala, CEO
ESTABLISHED: 2000
SPECIALTIES: Traditional, modern, and contemporary art, Asian art
NOTABLE LOTS: Nine Gibbons at Play, by Chen Wen Hsi, $109,000 (est. $93,000–111,000), from the Modern & Contemporary Art sale, July 5, 2015. Women in the Garden, by Adrien Jean Le Mayeur de Merprès, $519,000 (est. $500– 700,000), from the Modern & Contemporary Art sale, January 24, 2015. Three Horses, by Lee Man Fong, $303,000 (est. $136– 176,000), from the Modern & Contemporary Art sale, August, 24, 2014.
CONTACT: larasati.com, info@larasati.com, +65 67 372 130
TAIWAN
ZHONG CHENG AUCTION CO., LTD.
Taipei
PERSONNEL: Michelle Chih-Han Wang, vice president, business development
ESTABLISHED: 2006
SPECIALTIES: Chinese contemporary art
NOTABLE LOTS: Triumphal Arch, 1971, by Liao Chichun, $295,000 (est. $272–320,000), from the 2015 Spring Auction— Modern and Contemporary Art, April 14, 2015. 14.06.61, 1961, by Zao Wouki, $899,000 (est. $576– 896,000), from the 2014 Autumn Auction—Modern and Contemporary Art, December 21, 2014. Illusion, 1993, by Wang Huaiqing, $1.5 million (est. $1.3–1.4 million), from the 2014 Spring Auction—Modern and Contemporary Art, June 8, 2014.
CONTACT: art106.com, art@art106.com, +886 2 8773 3565
