At $6.86 million, total sales for the Lark Mason Associates online auction on iGavel far surpassed initial estimates of $1.6 to $2.4 million for the 344 lots up for bidding. Garnering one of the most astonishing and unexpected auction results of the year was the recent sale of a rare 18th-century Chinese hand scroll, which brought about one of the highest prices ever achieved in an online auction: $4.1 million.

This scroll, one of only three known to exist, depicts 19th-century military officers, each painted with a Western-style perspective. Accompanied by commentary and seals, and in superb condition, the scroll was purchased by an Asian collector.

Among the lots sold were a superb pair of Chinese Huanghuali Yokeback Armchairs, selling for $540,000, to an English collector; two Peachbloom Glazed Porcelain Seal Paste Boxes, bringing in $111,000; and a large Chinese Parcel-Gilt Bronze Seated Buddha from the Ming Dynasty, selling for $90,000. Of particular rarity was a Zitan and Jichimu Throneback Armchair with boldly carved dragon panels against a cloud background, offered by an American collector and sold for $60,000.  All prices include buyer’s premium.

ABOUT LARK MASON

Lark Mason Associates, the eponymous, Harlem-based auction house specializing in Asian, ethnographic, and ancient works of art, was founded by Lark Mason after many years as an expert at Sotheby’s New York.

Mason served as a General Appraiser from 1979 until 1985, and as a Senior Vice President and specialist in Chinese art with Sotheby’s Chinese Works of Art Department from 1985-2003.  From 2000-2003 he concurrently was a Director of Online Auctions for Sothebys.com. He also served as a consulting curator at the Trammel and Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art in Dallas, Texas from 2003-2009.  He is an expert in the field of Chinese furniture, having responsibility for this area during his tenure at Sotheby’s. As an Asian works of art specialist he has valued and advised many private collectors and institutions.

Lark Mason Associates regularly hosts auctions on the iGavel Auctions platform and has an established history of record sales of Chinese and other works of art.

Lark Mason Associates is located at 227 East 120th Street (between 2nd and 3rd Avenue), New York, NY, 10035. Visit www.larkmasonassociates.com, or phone (212) 289-5524.

About iGavel Auctions

When Lark Mason founded iGavel Inc., the online international network of independently owned regional auction salesrooms, specializing in the sale of fine and decorative arts, in 2003, his stellar reputation as a leading expert, appraiser and television personality on the PBS series The Antiques Roadshow, was already well-established within the art world.

With iGavel's large network of auction houses and dealers, there is an abundant selection of items daily flowing onto the iGavel site from companies including: Abington Auctions in Fort Lauderdale, FL; Case Antiques Auctions in Knoxville, TN; Daniel Cooney Fine Art in New York City; Elder's Fine Art & Antiques in Nokomis, FL.; Everard and Company in Savannah, GA.;  KC Auction Company in Kansas City, MO; Litchfield County Auctions in Litchfield, CT.; Lark Mason Associates in New York City; Nye and Company in Bloomfield, NJ;  Quinn’s Auction Gallery in Falls Church, VA; South Bay Auctions in East Moriches, NY; and Witherell’s in Sacramento, CA.

iGavel Auctions is located at 229 East 120th Street (between Second and Third Avenues), New York City. Visit www.igavelauctions.com, or phone 212-289-5588.