As we know by now, business is booming at Hong Kong auction houses. And the city dominates our first monthly list of top sellers at auction.
Sotheby’s spring sales netted a total of HKD$3.85 billion ($496 million) in April, the house’s second highest total for a sale series in the Asian hub (second only to its 40th anniversary sale in fall 2013). Poly Auction Hong Kong boasted a strong showing as well.
Pablo Picasso’s Buste de matador set a new record in Asia for the blue-chip artist, and seven works sold for more than HKD$100 million, including Clyfford Still’s PH-568, which had been in a private collection for the past five decades.
For more on what exactly is driving the multi-million dollar bonanza, check out Julia Halperin’s dive into the data. For those who are more visually and less numerically inclined, we’ve assembled a quick hit of the top 15 lots that sold last month below. Bear in mind that as always, final prices include fees, estimates do not.
1. Chu Teh-Chun, Harmonie hivernale (1986)
Chu Teh-Chun, Harmonie hivernale (1986). Courtesy of Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
Final Price: HKD$229.57 million ($29.54 million)
Estimate: HKD$80 million to HKD$120 million ($10.23 million to $15.44 million)
Where & When: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, April 18, 2021
2. Zao Wou-Ki, 13.02.62 (1962)
Zao Wou-Ki, 13.02.62 (1962). Courtesy of Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
Final Price: HKD$162.93 million ($20.96 million)
Estimate: HKD$100 million to HKD$150 million ($12.87 million to $19.3 million)
Where & When: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, April 18, 2021
3. Pablo Picasso, Buste de matador (1970)
Pablo Picasso, Buste de matador (1970). Courtesy of Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
Final Price: HKD$140 million ($18.01 million)
Estimate: HKD$100 million to HKD$150 million ($12.87 to $19.3 million)
Where & When: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, April 18, 2021
4. Hongren, Landscapes and Calligraphies
Hongren, Landscapes and Calligraphies. Courtesy of Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
Final Price: HKD$128.46 million ($16.54 million)
Estimate: HKD$45 million to HKD$55 million ($5.79 million to $7.08 million)
Where & When: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, April 19, 2021
5. Clyfford Still, PH-568 (1965)
Clyfford Still, PH-568 (1965). Courtesy of Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
Final Price: HKD$126.16 million ($16.24 million)
Estimate: HKD$105 million to HKD$145 million ($13.52 million to $18.67 million)
Where & When: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, April 19, 2021
6. Yoshitomo Nara, Berlin Barack, Room 1 (2007)
Yoshitomo Nara, Berlin Barack, Room 1 (2007). Courtesy of Poly Auction Hong Kong.
Final Price: HKD$120 million ($15.46 million)
Estimate: Upon request
Where & When: Poly Auction Hong Kong, April 21, 2021
7. Gerhard Richter, Schwefel (Sulphur) (1985)
Gerhard Richter, Schwefel (Sulphur) (1985). Courtesy of Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
Final Price: HKD$118.12 million ($15.21 million)
Estimate: HKD$80 million to HKD$100 million ($10.3 million to $12.88 million)
Where & When: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, April 19, 2021
8. Roy Lichtenstein, Reflections on Thud! (1990)
Roy Lichtenstein, Reflections on Thud! (1990). Courtesy of Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
Final Price: HKD$110.12 million ($14.17 million)
Estimate: HKD$78 million to HKD$108 million ($10.04 million to $13.91 million)
Where & When: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, April 19, 2021
9. Sanyu, Nu avec un pékinois (ca. 1950s)
Sanyu, Nu avec un pékinois (ca. 1950s). Courtesy of Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
Final Price: HKD$105.48 million ($13.57 million)
Estimate: HKD$100 million to HKD$150 million ($12.87 million to $19.3 million)
Where & When: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, April 18, 2021
10. Yoshitomo Nara, Frog Girl (1998)
Yoshitomo Nara, Frog Girl (1998). Courtesy of Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
Final Price: HKD$96.28 million ($12.4 million)
Estimate: HKD$40 million to HKD$80 million ($5.15 million to $10.3 million)
Where & When: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, April 19, 2021
11. Zao Wou-Ki, Untitled (Golden City) (1951)
Zao Wou-Ki, Untitled (Golden City) (1951). Courtesy of Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
Final Price: HKD$74.45 million ($9.58 million)
Estimate: HKD$42 million to HKD$60 million ($5.4 million to $7.72 million)
Where & When: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, April 18, 2021
12. Zao Wou-Ki, 12.04.60 (1960)
Zao Wou-Ki, 12.04.60 (1960). Courtesy of Poly Auction Hong Kong.
Final Price: HKD$60 million ($7.73 million)
Estimate: HKD$45 million to HKD$65 million ($5.8 million to $8.37 million)
Where & When: Poly Auction Hong Kong, April 21, 2021
13. Zhang Daqian, Self Portrait with a Tibetan Mastiff
Zhang Daqian, Self Portrait with a Tibetan Mastiff. Courtesy of Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
Final Price: HKD$57.22 million ($7.36 million)
Estimate: HKD$48 million to HKD$60 million ($6.12 million to $7.72 million)
Where & When: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, April 18, 2021
14. Adrian Ghenie The Trip (2016)
Adrian Ghenie, The Trip (2016). Courtesy of Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
Final Price: HKD$48.03 million ($6,18 million)
Estimate: HKD$39 million to HKD$49 million ($5.02 million to $6.31 million)
Where & When: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, April 19, 2021
15. Pierre Soulages, Peinture 125 x 202 cm, 30 Octobre 1958 (1958)
Pierre Soulages, Peinture 125 x 202 cm, 30 Octobre 1958 (1958). Courtesy of Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
Final Price: HKD$48.03 million ($6.18 million)
Estimate: HKD$38 million to HKD$58 million ($4.89 million to $7.47 million)
Where & When: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, April 18, 2021