China

Chinese art and antiques are part of a new list of $300bn-plus of imports drawn up by President Trump’s administration in the country’s escalating trade war with China, ATG understands.

An exceptionally rare Western Zhou bronze, taken when the Summer Palace was sacked by British troops in 1860, has been returned to China.

The recently discovered pair to the famous ‘Bainbridge vase’ has sold in Hong Kong today for a premium-inclusive HK$149m (£14.6m). Bidding opened at HK$40 million and steadily climbed as five bidders competed for the lot.

An extraordinarily rare artwork by pre-eminent Chinese scholar Su Shi (1037-1101) will be offered at Christie’s Hong Kong later this year. The auctioneers are hoping that it could make a record for any Asian work of art.

Sotheby’s has promoted Nicolas Chow to chairman of Sotheby’s Asia. He has risen through the ranks of the company as the Chinese art market has grown rapidly since he joined Sotheby’s in 1999.

Today marks Chinese New Year, heralding the year of the dog. Those born in the year of the dog are said to be loyal, honest, just and popular in social circles.

China Guardian is to open a new flagship building in Beijing this spring with auction and museum space.

Sotheby’s posted a record price for any piece of Chinese ceramics sold at auction after a rare Ru guanyao brush washer drew a 20 minute bidding battle in Hong Kong.

Failure by buyers to pay for works of art they have successfully won at auction in China remains a major problem for the industry, according to the latest report.

China is shutting a third of its ivory factories and shops, as it begins to meet the requirements of a formal ban by the end of the year.

Christie’s has opened its third premises in China with a new space in Beijing.

Over 100 exhibitors have signed up for the inaugural Hong Kong Coin Show which opens on Friday, making it one of the largest numismatic shows of the year in Asia.

The largest shareholder in Beijing’s China Guardian Auctions has also become the largest single shareholder in Sotheby’s. Cheng Dongshen, chairman and chief executive of Taikang Life Insurance, purchased $230m or 8m Sotheby’s shares across June and July and now has a 13.5% stake.