Don't overlook foreign auction catalogues

   Foreign auction catalogues from Europe and the Far East are a good way to discover artists who have yet to establish themselves beyond their native shores. You may not be able to read the bulk of the text but there should be enough clues to allow you to do further research online. As an admirer of realist paintings, I'd like to show you four paintings from a recent sale of Chinese modern and contemporary art at Poly Auctions in Beijing. I will be putting quite a few of their catalogues online for sale shortly.

   There are digital watermarks (not my doing) on one or two of these images so be aware if you use them.

   First up is Man of Butuo by Luo Zhongli:

   Painted in 1988 and measuring 26"x21", it was estimated at £60,000-70,000. It sold for £108,000.

   Tibetan Girl by Ai Xuan, painted in 1993, 20"x24". Estimated at £82,000-123,000, sold for £106,000.

   Tibetan Men by Yu Hanxi, painted in 2011, 90½"x171¼". Estimated at £154,000-184,000, it sold for £224,000.

      Girl in Red Scarf by Yan Yaya, painted in 2006, 63"x59". Estimated at £22,500-26,000, it sold for £35,000.

   I could have added more, but this is only one catalogue and I've got loads. Keep an eye out for when I list them. When are you going to get an opportunity otherwise to pick up Beijing catalogues for a song?

   This catalogue is now in the 'books for sale' post below.

Asian Art auction at John Nicholson's, Haslemere, Surrey, July 28th

   John Nicholson Auctioneers in Haslemere, Surrey, has an Asian Art sale on July 28th. 723 lots.

An unusually large late 19th Century Japanese ivory okimono, the immortal carved from a single tusk, standing with a crane by his side and a scroll in his hands. Signed tablet to base. Good condition. 17" high x 5" wide. Estimate: £6,000-8,000.








You can view the online catalogue here.

China's Terracotta Army replica industry in Shaanxi province

   The latest issue of China Daily (European Weekly) (here) features an article on nearly thirty factories in Shaanxi province that produce reproductions of the terracotta army guarding the tomb complex of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of China.

   You can read the full article here.

2 Yan Pei-Ming paintings in Christie's Contemporary Art sale June 29th

   In Christie's Post-War & Contemporary Art Day Sale on June 29th are 2 paintings by Yan Pei-Ming.

Yan Pei-Ming (b.1960) - Mao dated 03.92 oil on canvas 40.5"x78.75" Estimate: £180,000-250,000

 

Portrait of Brigitte Gairard dated 1998 oil on canvas 39.5"x32" Estimate: £40,000-60,000

   You can view the online catalogue here.

Yan Pei-Ming painting at Pierre Bergé, Brussels June 8th

   Pierre Bergé & Associés in Brussels is auctioning a painting by Yan Pei-Ming in its Modern and Contemporary Art sale on June 8th.

Yan Pei-Ming (b.1960) - Tête de bouddha, 1999
Oil on canvas. Signed & dated to the back.

290x290 cm. Estimate €350,000-450,000

   You can view the online catalogue here. There's a sale the following day as well that you can browse here.

Video of Ai Wei Wei's Zodiac Heads from asiasociety.org

   I was having a look at the Asia Society website (here) and saw this little video. I've pinched it to put on here, so please have a look at their site by way of a thank you.

 

   If you want to see a bigger image of this, then copy and open the following code in a new window:

                        http://media.asiasociety.org/video/110516_zodiacheads.flv

   How I got this will probably be the subject of a future post titled something like 'How to pinch stuff off websites using Firefox and Adblock Plus'

Chinese efforts to preserve underwater archaeological wreck sites

   I picked up a copy of the European weekly edition of China Daily (here) and there's an article on the Chinese Goverment's efforts to salvage the wrecks of the Ming Dynasty merchant vessel Nan'ao No. 1 discovered in 2007 in the South China Sea, and also the Song Dynasty Nanhai No. 1 lifted entire from the seabed also in 2007.

   You can read the article here.