In New York, the Christie's March 25th sale For the Enjoyment of Scholars: Selections from the Robert H. Blumenfield Collection achieved $13,866,500 and was 71% sold by lot, 94% sold by value.  The top lot of the sale was Yu Zhiding's Happiness through Chan Practice: Portrait of Wang Shizhen, a handscroll, and a new auction record for a Classical Chinese Painting sold in the U.S., realizing $3,442,500.

Tina Zonars, International Director of Chinese Works of Art said: “We are delighted that the extraordinary collection of scholar’s objects from Robert H. Blumenfield was so well received by international buyers in the room, on the phone and on Christie's LIVE™ who appreciated the beauty and rarity of pieces lovingly assembled with passion and connoisseurship over a period of more than 30 years. Exceedingly strong prices were achieved especially for rhinoceros and ivory carvings; indeed the price realized for the rare imperial engraved ivory bowl was a record for an ivory carving in the U.S."

The sale of Property from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections achieved $4,005,250 and was 96% sold by lot, 99% sold by value.  The top lot of the sale was a very rare large limestone figure of a kneeling Bodhisattva, 10th/12th Century, realizing $914,500.

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About Christies: Christie’s, the world's leading art business had global auction and private sales in 2008 that totaled £2.8 billion/$5.1 billion. Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise, as well as international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie's conducted the greatest auctions of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and today remains a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christie’s offers over 600 sales annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $80 million. Christie’s has 53 offices in 30 countries and 10 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai and Hong Kong. More recently, Christie’s has led the market with expanded initiatives in emerging and new markets such as Russia, China, India and the United Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Mumbai and Dubai.