Chinese jades, imperial porcelain, cloisonné, scholars’ items and furniture were among the most sought-after items at New York's Asian Art Week of events, which ended March 26. Newly affluent mainland Chinese buyers were out in force.

In the Chinese works of art category, Christie's had its biggest sale in New York ever, grossing $40m, three times the total of rival Sotheby's. Christie's secured a wide selection of rare works from prominent private collectors such as Stephen Junkunc. His large white jade Buddha figure soared to $2.3m (including commission and taxes), ten times above its estimate.

Also at Christie's was Yu Zhiding's Happiness through Chan Practice: Portrait of Wang Shizhen, a handscroll, which garnered a new auction record for a classical Chinese painting sold in the U.S., realizing $3,442,500. A very rare large limestone figure of a kneeling Bodhisattva, 10th/12th Century, realized $914,500.