Cowan's is thrilled to announce that its first auction dedicated solely to Asian Art was a huge success. With sales coming in at $1,116,846.25, Wes Cowan and staff could not be happier.

"We are delighted with the results of our first Asian art auction. It validated for us the strength of the market for quality Asian antiques. This was a learning experience and believe me, we learned a lot." -Wes Cowan, President and Principal Auctioneer

"We are quite pleased with the results of our inauguaral Asian art sale." - Michelle Johnson, Specialist - Fine and Decorative Art

The auction was held over two days, on Friday and Saturday August 26th and 27th, and featured 796 lots. Over the two days 2,115 bidders participated from 15 countries. Of the winning bidders, 73% bid online and 11% bid on the floor in Cowan's salesroom; the percentage of absentee and phone winning-bidders tied at 8% each. The sell-through rate of the sale was 15.7%. Of the lots sold, 37.5% sold over estimate. The biggest seller was a Chinese Bronze Standing Buddha that came in at a whopping $102,000 (with buyers premium); sixty-eight times its estimate of $1,000/1500.

Graydon Sikes, Specialist of Fine Art at Cowan's, commented, "There were lots of surprises - big, expensive ones."

The sale included a wide selection of ivory, jade and porcelain, prints, Chinese furniture, scroll paintings, and reference material. Highlights of the sale included a Sino-Tibetan Bronze Buddha, a Pair of Chinese White Jade Pendants, a Chinese Republic Period Ivory Wrist Rest with Polychrome Insects, a Chinese Carved Jade Duck Seated on a Lotus Flower, a Japanese Cloisonné Vase, Chinese Carved Ivory Vases on Stands and a Gilt Bronze Buddha.

The sale's highest selling lot was a Chinese Bronze Standing Buddha which brought $102,000, sixty-eight times its estimate of $1,000/1,500. It is a bronze of a Buddha, with traces of gilt and dark red paint, standing on a lotus flower.

A Chinese Republic Period Ivory Wrist Rest with Polychrome Insects sold for $47,000, over twice its estimate of $15,000/20,000. This carved double wrist rest, when closed, takes the form of a bamboo shaft.

A lot of Chinese White Jade Pendants realized $49,937.50, over ninety-nine times its estimate of $300/500. The lot comprised two carved white jade pendants; the first a rectangular pendant with one side carved with a horse with two riders talking to two men in a cart, and the other side with calligraphy. The other pendant is carved with a bird and flowers in a basket.

A Sino-Tibetan Bronze Buddha sold for $54,000 - over thirteen times its estimate of $2,000/4,000. Of Sino-Tibetan origin, this is a finely cast bronze Buddha with red and blue decoration, atop a lotus base.

A Chinese Carved Jade Duck Seated on a Lotus Flower hammered down at $46,800, seventy-eight times its estimate of $400/600. Of the 20th century or earlier, this is a finely carved jade of a duck sitting on top of a transparent and thinly carved lotus flower.

A Japanese Cloisonné Vase brought $19,200, over thirty-eight times its estimate of $300/500. Of the early 20th century, this cloisonné vase has pink and white floral decoration on a blue background, with one character mark stamped on the bottom, along with a U.S. Customs sticker.

A lot of Chinese Carved Ivory Vases on Stands realized $8,400, over thirty-three times its estimate of $150/250. The carved ivory vases on stands each show a dragon relief carving.

A Gilt Bronze Buddha hammered down at $20,400, twenty-nine times its estimate of $500/700. Sino-Tibetan, this gilt bronze Buddha is seated in dhyanasana on a double lotus flower, his hair in tight curls covering the domed ushnisha above, with an urna on the forehead and long pierced earlobes.

About Cowan’s Auctions, Inc.

As one of the nation’s leading auction houses with sales approaching $20 million, Cowan’s has been helping individuals and institutions build important collections for more than a decade. The company’s six divisions of American History, American Indian and Western Art, American and European Fine and Decorative Art, Historic Firearms & Early Militaria, Asian Art and Jewelry and Fine Timepieces hold semi-annual cataloged sales that routinely set records for rare offerings.

Through its extensive mailing list of more than 35,000 collectors, dealers and institutional clients, each Cowan’s auction typically attracts more than 1,000 bidders from across the globe. To learn more about Cowan’s visit our website at www.cowans.com.

Asian Art Auction
SALE: 8/26/11 8 AM EDT, 8/27/11 8 AM EDT
Cowan's Auctions, Cincinnati, Ohio

Editors: For High Resolution Photographs, please contact Katie Monroe.