Among the most dramatic results were two new auction records.
A late work by famed 20th century Chinese painter Zhang Daqian (1899-1983), Peach Blossom Spring of 1982, brought a premium-inclusive HK$271m/US$34.7m/GB£24.6m, a new auction high for the artist. The hanging scroll was bought by the Long Museum in Shanghai.
In the auctioneers’ jewellery and jadeite sale on April 5, the De Beers Millennium Jewel 4, a 10.10-carat oval-shaped internally flawless fancy vivid blue diamond, brought HK$248.3m/US$31.8m/GB£22.6m, the highest price for a jewel sold at auction in Asia.
Speaking as the series ended, Kevin Ching, CEO of Sotheby’s Asia, said “Our salesrooms were full of Chinese buyers, paddles shot into the air, and records tumbled all week long. If this is what a correction feels like, then I sure hope we have one in the autumn too, because our sales are up 17% over last spring.”
