On June 27, Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction closed with a gross turnover of 920 million RMB and a total sale rate of 88.52%. The auction lasted for three days, during which over 4,000 lots were on bid in 32 sales.

    Generally, we keep our traditional advantages in categories of Chinese painting & calligraphy, important manuscripts, seals and ink stones, etc. and present new sales highlighting the elegance and inheritance of art. Many lots perform beyond expectation and selected art works sold at extraordinarily high prices break the records over and over again. With domestic and international collectors participating with great enthusiasm, 90% of the lots are successfully sold. Among those, sales of Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy by Top Members of Xiling Yinshe, Pure Soul: Master Hong Yi’s Calligraphy Works and Rise of Modern Chinese Painting: China’s First Sale of Painting Sketches are traded by 100%, giving us another night of White Gloves. Since 2004, Xiling Auction has presented 15 brand-new sales in China’s market and harvested supports from the market with an exceptional sense of innovation. 

    Quotes from the GM Lu Jingqing:

    Xiling Auction advocates the philosophy of interpreting art and life. By innovating management principle, developing new art categories, promoting academic research and engaging in cultural communication and charity activities, we have developed both the cultural and creative industries and other related industries to auction, enriching the one-hundred-year brand of Xiling Yinshe. Through collecting art works from home and abroad and extending exchanges of art and culture, we will continue to make our contribution to reviving traditional Chinese culture, present a new image of China and improve the quality of people’s life. 

I. Zhang Chonghe and Kunqu opera highlighted in the Spring Auction

   Zhang Chonghe and Kunqu: China’s First Sale of Opera Arts is a specially planned sale in this spring auction. It is not just a memorial to Ms. Zhang, but also the 15^th ground-breaking sale presented by Xiling Auction. Before the auction, we organized a series of activities, including lectures about Zhang Chonghe and Kunqu performance. The lots in this sale are all provided by Zhang’s family and students. They are valuable literatures, manuscripts, costumes and ink sticks both in respect of Zhang Chonghe’s social activities, academic research and art achievements as the Last Lady of Republic of China. As a charity sale, the proceeds of the sale will go to the initial capital of Zhang Chonghe Kunqu Opera Fund.

    This sale lasted 4 hours from 11:00 pm, June 25 to 3:00 am of the next day. Among more than 200 lots, many were bid over tenfold the estimates, with a total sale rate of 98% and a turnover of 2.755 million RMB.

   The Ink Sticks of Qianlong Period, Qing Dynasty collected by Zhang Chonghe and provided by Yang Zhensheng, starting at 18,000 RMB, was responded by about ten bidders. When the price reached 500,000 RMB, there were still two bidders in pursuit of the lot. Finally the deal was closed at 690,000 RMB, almost forty times the estimates. 

▲Lot958
Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Qing Dynasty  Ink Sticks of Qianlong Period

Sale Price: 690,000 RMB

    The Autograph Manuscript of Gongche Notation of the Palace of Eternal Life by Zhang Chonghe started with 280,000 RMB and was closed at 598,000 RMB after competitive biddings. An Entertaining Shoushan Stone ‘Bamboo’ Seal by Zhao Mu, Ms. Zhang’s most frequently used seal, started bidding at 30,000 RMB and was closed at 483,000 RMB. The Kunqu Opera Costume designed and used by Ms. Zhang was clinched at 126,500 RMB, with its start price of 10,000 RMB.

▲Lot951

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Zhao Muan  A Entertaining Shoushan Stone ‘Bamboo’ Seal

Sale Price: 483,000 RMB

▲Lot858

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Zhang Chonghe  Kunqu Opera Costume

Sale Price: 126,500 RMB

II. Three Sales Witnessed the Night of White Glove again

   The first day of the auction is a hit with remarkable performance with three sales hitting a 100% deal rate successively. In the sale of Rise of Modern Chinese Painting: China’s First Sale of Painting Sketches, 121 sketches were sold, including The First Sketch of Shaoshan Mountain by Li Keran, Sketch Album of Mount Huang by Zhang Daqian and Zhang Shanzi, Animal Sketches by Zhang Shanzi and Painting Sketch Album of the Holy Land of Revolution by Tang Yun, etc. Amid them, The First Sketch of Shaoshan Mountain by Li Keran and Fishing among Rivers by Liu Haisu started biddings at 300,000 and 80,000 RMB respectively, and both were closed at 713,000 RMB. 

▲Lot583

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Li Keran  The First Sketch of Shaoshan Mountain

Sale Price: 713, 000 RMB

▲Lot662

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Liu Haisu  Fishing among Rivers

Sale Price: 713, 000 RMB

    The second sale achieving full deal rate is Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy by Top Members of Xiling Yinshe with a total turnover close to 100 million RMB. The Landscape of Xiling by Huang Binhong, as one of Huang’s masterpieces completed in his late years, showed viewers grand scenery in South China with the magnificent strokes of north school. This lot started at 6,000,000 RMB, and finally was clinched at 13,800,000 RMB after rounds of fierce bidding. 

▲Lot760

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Huang Binhong  Landscape of Xiling

Sale Price: 13,800,000 RMB

    Pure Soul: Master Hong Yi’s Calligraphy Works is the third sale contributing to the White Glove Night. 12 exquisite items, varied from letters, scrolls, couplets and inscriptions, reached a gross turnover of 14.5 million RMB and a deal rate of 100%. Amidst all the twelve, Amitabha in Seal Script by Master Hong Yi, a Buddhist Sutra that Master Hong Yi presented to his bosom friend Wang Mengsong, is extremely rare. This work, published on Huangshan Daily in 1990, was finally clinched at 3,100,000 RMB in the auction.

▲Lot816

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Master Hong Yi  Amitabha in Seal Script  

Sale Price: 3,105,000 RMB

   Calligraphy in Running Script by Master Hong Yi is dedicated to Xia Zhijun, Xia Mianzun’s fourth younger brother. This work, witnessing the bond between literatis, was sold at 2,415,000 RMB. 

▲Lot815
Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Master Hong Yi  Calligraphy in Running Script

Sale Price: 2,415,000 RMB

III. Classical Paintings and Calligraphy Kept Strong, and the Modern and Contemporary Were Traded by Over 90%

    The Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction keeps its high quality as always. The sale of Classical Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy reached a total turnover of 173,000,000 RMB and a deal rate of 88%. Five-character Poem in Running Script by Wang Duo was clinched at 4,600,000 RMB. The lot of Five-character Couplet in Regular Script by Zhao Zhiqian, which is dedicated to the famous poet Zhang Mingke, started at 1,200,000 RMB and was closed at 4,255,000 RMB, multiplied the estimate.

▲Lot2612

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Wang Duo  Five-character Poem in Running Script

Sale Price: 4,600,000 RMB

▲Lot2539

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Zhao Zhiqian  Five-character Couplet in Regular Script

Sale Price: 4,255,000 RMB

    Wild Weeds in the Wind by Shi Xuechuang was sold at 7,015,000 RMB. Dong Qichang’s work Scholar’s Secluded Life inscribed by Wu Hufan ended its bidding at 6,900,000 RMB. Flowers in Four Seasons by Zhao Zhiqian began bidding at 5,000,000 RMB and was closed at 9,430,000 RMB.

▲Lot2604

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Shi Xuechuang  Wild Weeds in the Wind

Sale Price: 7,015,000 RMB

▲Lot2600

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Dong Qichang  Scholar’s Secluded Life  

Sale Price: 6,900,000 RMB

    Modern and Contemporary Paintings & Calligraphy sale becomes the pursuit of bidders as the lots had been collected by famous artists with provenances, thus over 90% were traded. White Monkey Offering Peach by Qi Baishi, published for many times, was finally clinched at 5,750,000 RMB. Appreciating Waterfall by Zhang Daqian is one of his mid-age master pieces, clinched at 5,750,000 RMB as well. 

▲Lot310

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Qi Baishi  White Monkey Offering Peach

Sale Price: 5,750,000 RMB

▲Lot395

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Zhang Daqian  Appreciating Waterfall

Sale Price: 5,750,000 RMB

    Xu Beihong’s A Horse previously collected by the military governor of Jiangxi Province, Li Liejun, was sold at 5,405,000 RMB. Xie Zhiliu’s Pheasants by Green Bamboo, one of the masterpieces to extend his good wish and previously collected by Qian Zhenhuang’s grandson Qian Muzhi, started at 500,000 RMB and deserved the honor by the sale price of 3,450,000 RMB. 

▲Lot416

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Xu Beihong  A Horse

Sale Price: 5,405,000 RMB

▲Lot10

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Xie Zhiliu  Pheasants by Green Bamboo

Sale Price: 3,450, 000 RMB

    In the sale of Xiling Yinshe’s First Sale of Literati’s Horizontal Inscribed Boards, there are 100 literati’s horizontal inscribed boards, ending up with a total turnover of 30,850,000 RMB and a sale rate of 95%. The board Shi Qing Feng Ming Yue Zhi Lu made by Deng Shiru started at a price of 6 million RMB and was closed at 15,525, 000 RMB after the buyers both on site and telephone raced the bids for as long as 20 minutes. This board successfully hit the record as one of Deng’s calligraphy works, a truly greatest work of its kind. 

▲Lot2380

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Deng Shiru  Calligraphy

Sale Price: 15, 525, 000 RMB

IV. The sale of Important Chinese and International Manuscripts hit the record again and the Rare and Fine Ancient Books continued being welcomed by the market. 

   The sale of Important Chinese and International Manuscripts is sold 92% by rate, reaching a turnover of 33 million RMB, including the international manuscripts which are extremely rare with celebrities concerned and letters describing plenty of interesting and touching stories about the writers and recipients. The Autograph Letter Signed on Interpretation of Human Nature and Music Composition by Beethoven was finally clinched at 3, 407, 500 RMB, which has become the highest sale price for the master’s autograph manuscript. As of the Chinese counterparts, Kang Sheng’s Calligraphy Dedicated to Luo Ping started the biddings at 150,000 RMB and was clinched at 1,265,000 RMB, ten times higher than the estimate. 

▲Lot2229

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Ludwig Von Beethoven  Autograph Letter Signed on Interpretation of Human Nature and Music Composition

Sale Price: 3,247,500 RMB

▲Lot2094

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Kang Sheng  Calligraphy Dedicated to Luo Ping

Sale Price: 1,265,000 RMB

    Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction presented two sales: Fine Ink Rubbings and Fine and Rare Ancient Books, involving 255 lots with an average sale rate of 82.65% and a turnover of 21,895,000 RMB. The lots imbued with literati’s elegant taste and academic value continue to be favored by the market. For instance, the rubbings of the wares and inscriptions collected by Wu Dacheng and Chen Jieqi were 100% sold in the sale of Fine Ink Rubbings. The Rubbings of Jade Articles, Coins and Tiles collected by Wu Dacheng even took the first place with a sale price of 2, 185, 000 RMB. In the sale of coin rubbings, the Collection of Coin Impressions which was issued every time when a member of Shou Quan Hui Society celebrated his birthday started the biddings at the price of 80, 000 RMB but did not stop until 575, 000 RMB. 

▲Lot1091

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction 

Wu Dacheng  Collection of Coin Impressions

Sale Price: 2, 185, 000 RMB

    In the section of seal impressions at the Fine and Rare Ancient Books, the Seal Impressions of Baoyanzhai Studio inscribed by Pang Shilong started at 50, 000 RMB and was realized at 345, 000 RMB; a book called Mei Jing Shu Wu Yin Xuan collected by Wu Hufan experienced a fierce competition from the price 50, 000 RMB to 184, 000 RMB for the book was printed only in ten copies. In the section of manuscripts and literatures about Zhejiang, Jiang Xueyong’s manuscript of Yin Zhi Gao, one of the most important literatures about Zhejiang that have ever appeared on the auction in recent years, was finally clinched at a price of 1, 035, 000 RMB. 

▲Lot1216

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Jiang Xueyong  Yin Zhi Gao

Sale Price: 1, 035, 000 RMB

V. Success of all categories by market-oriented operation and strategies

   The results of the seal sale are cheerful. The Entertaining Seals by Masters, Study Series-Exquisite Tianhuang Stone Carvings and Master’s Seals and Study Series-Seal Cuttings by Modern and Contemporary Chinese Masters achieved a lot with a total turnover of over 50 million RMB and an average sale rate of 90%. Among them, the Square Tianhuang Stone Seal Engraved by Shang Jun, a top seal cutting master in the early Qing Dynasty, began its bidding at 1, 100, 000 RMB and hit 2, 472, 500 RMB in the end. 

▲Lot3870

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Early Qing Dyansty  A Square Tianhuang Stone Seal Engraved by Shang Jun

Sale Price: 2, 472, 500 RMB

   A Shoushan ‘Furong’ Stone ‘Elephant’ seal engraved by Wu Changshuo, which is 1.5cm in width and length, used to be one of Kobayashi Toan’s collections and illustrated in many publications was sold at 897, 000 RMB. 

▲Lot3797

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

A Shoushan ‘Furong’ Stone ‘Elephant’ Seal Engraved by Wu Changshuo

Sale Price: 897, 000 RMB

Besides, in the sale of Study Series-Fine Inkstones and Ink Sticks, a Duan inkstone inscribed by Zhang Yuanbian and collected by Song Ping started at 220, 000 RMB and was realized at 713, 000 RMB.

▲Lot4144

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Ming Dynasty  A Duan Inkstone Inscribed by Zhang Yuanbian and Collected by Song Ping

Sale Price: 713, 000 RMB

   The turnover of Chinese Ceramics reached 35, 715, 000 RMB, including an extremely rare and exquisite copper-red ceramic ware of Yuan Dynasty—‘A Copper-red Mallet-shaped Vase with Peacock and Peony Patterns’ which was closed at 38, 525, 000 RMB. In the meantime, the ceramics collected by Jingxiutang Studio all found their buyers with sale prices dozen times higher than their estimated prices before the auction. The sale of Ever Lasting Glory-Refined Articles in the Study also enjoys 99% sale rate and the scholars’ objects which had been collected by famous persons with clear provenances were widely pursued and admired. 

▲Lot1653

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Yuan Dynasty  A Copper-red Mallet-shaped Vase with Peacock and Peony Patterns

Sale Price: 3, 852, 500 RMB

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Collections of Jingxiutang Studio

   The sale of Chinese Zisha Wares has been well received in recent years for its rare lots that meet not just the collectors’ aesthetics but also their demands for authentication and collection, and this spring auction is also not within exception. There are totally 147 lots for hammer in the sale, ending up with a sale rate of 89.04% and a total turnover of 26, 700, 000 RMB. Among them, the Early Qing Dynasty-A ‘Pomegranate’ flower holder made by Chen Mingyuan started at 90, 000 RMB, skyrocketed to 600, 000 RMB directly by a collector, and finally closed at 862, 500 RMB. 

▲Lot3367

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Early Qing Dynasty  A ‘Pomegranate’ Flower Holder Made by Chen Mingyuan

Sale Price: 862, 500 RMB

    The lot of Purple Clay ‘Drum’ Teapot with ‘Zhong Yu Xian Guan’, ‘Peng Nian’ and ‘Man Sheng’ Marks of mid-Qing Dynasty was marked with a starting price of 450, 000 RMB but soon overtaken by a collector’s bid of 1, 500, 000 RMB and it was sold at 2, 587, 500 RMB. Shunzhi Period, Qing Dynasty-A Circular Purple Clay Teapot with ‘Da Bin’ Mark of Shunzhi Period, Qing Dynasty even clinched a deal at 5, 865, 000 RMB from 190, 000 RMB, 25 times higher than the estimate. This auction also sets its foot in the Pu’er tea for the purpose of inheriting and developing our tea culture. Lots at high prices and sale rates also came in succession.

▲Lot3497

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Shunzhi Period, Qing Dynasty  A Circular Purple Clay Teapot with ‘Da Bin’ Mark

Sale Price: 5, 865, 000 RMB

   In the sale of Jade Carvings by Contemporary Chinese Masters, a set of dark jade plaques carved by Pang Ran got its hammer price as high as 977, 500 RMB, breaking both records of the master’s personal sale and Chinese dark jade plaques. Another two Chinese masters of art, Cui Lei and Ni Dongfang also harvested 1, 069, 500 RMB and 1, 725, 000 RMB for their works: a white jade ‘Mammon’ ornament and a Qingtian stone carving group respectively.

▲Lot1985

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Pang Ran  A Set of Dark Jade Plaques

Sale Price: 977, 500 RMB

   A pair of white marble lions of Yuan Dynasty in the sale of Chinese Garden Arts-Stone Carvings is so precious for its rarity that its starting price of 1,800,000 RMB soon soared to 9, 315, 000 RMB.

▲Lot3591

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Yuan Dynasty  A Pair of Marble Lions

Sale Price: 9, 315, 000 RMB

    The sale of Modern and Contemporary Chinese Oil Paintings is finished with a sale rate close to 90%. A Sha Qi’s masterpiece – ‘Naked Woman before a White Horse’, the largest one for auction up to now, was drawn on the door on the 2nd floor of the artist’s former home. It is the only one of eleven mural series that has been left in the mainland China and it created a historical record at the sale price of 4, 485, 000 RMB. 

▲Lot2827

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

Sha Qi  Naked Woman before a White Horse

Sale Price: 4, 485, 000 RMB

   The sale of Comics, Illustrations & Cartoons by Chinese Masters is closed with outstanding performance too, contributing to a total turnover of 15, 050, 000 RMB and a sale rate of 92%. The refined comic strips of old version rose suddenly as new forces and they are sold several times higher than their starting prices. For instance, a complete set of comic strip Romance of The Three Kingdoms published by Shanghai People’s Fine Art Publishing House in 1963 started at 60, 000 RMB and was clinched at 414, 000 RMB. 

▲Lot3063

Xiling Yinshe 2016 Spring Auction

A Set of Comic Strip Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Sale Price: 414, 000 RMB

   The consignment for Xiling Yinshe 2016 Autumn Auction is open now.