List of high-quality authors
Bonhams' Antiques Chinese Antiques department continues its success this year with a number of outstanding Chinese musical instruments that have been sold for many years in the international auction house, thanks to the expertise of Bonhams' experts in Hong Kong and London, who have been working in the field for many years, as well as their deep connections with key collectors around the world.
A review of the auction results of Chinese musical instruments
Bonhams London's November sale of two instruments from the collection of renowned sinologist Robert H van Gulik (1910 1967) sold for more than their high estimates.
The legendary Dutch diplomat and sinologist Gao Luopei is the author of many works such as "The Case of Di Gong", "Compilation of Calligraphy and Painting Appreciation" and "Illustrated Examination of Secret Plays". He is also quite accomplished in ancient Chinese music, not only writing the book "The Way of the Qin", but also often playing the qin himself. The "nameless" Zhongni-style guqin of the late Ming Dynasty and the 17th-century black lacquer-inlaid luodian flower and bird pattern poetry pipa were both Gao Luopei's lovers.
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London Bonhams |Chinese Art Masterpieces & Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition
lot 315
Late Ming Dynasty "nameless" Zhongni style guqin
Length 121 cm.
Realized: £698,900.
Sold at nearly 4 times the low estimate.
*: Gao Luopei (1910-1967) was acquired in Beijing in 1936 and has been preserved by posterity to this day.
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London Bonhams |Chinese Art Masterpieces & Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition
lot 316
17th century: Black lacquer inlaid with luodian flowers and birds, figures, poems, and pipa
Length 91 cm.
Realized: £165,500.
Sold at 2 times the low estimate.
*: Collected by Gau Rope (1910-1967) and preserved by posterity.
Immediately following the sale at the same auction is the Ming Dynasty Crane Song Autumn Moon Baiqin from the collection of Swedish scholar Cecilia Lindqvist (1899 1983). The piano was given to her by the Beijing Guqin Research Association in the 1960s during her Xi studies in Beijing. Under the fierce bidding, the instrument was finally sold far above estimate.
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London Bonhams |Chinese Art Masterpieces & Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition
lot 317
Ming crane chirping autumn moon style baiqin
Length 1225 cm.
Realized: £368,700.
Sold 12 times the ultra-low estimate.
*: Lin Xili (1932-2021), Stockholm, obtained in Beijing in 1962.
In 2020, Bonhams held Hong Kong's first Chinese art auction titled "Eight Tones and Harmonies: A Record of Chinese Art", covering thousands of years of Chinese art, from the Bronze Age to the present day, featuring traditional instruments such as ancient bells, guqins, drums, and opera kundi. Among them, a Ming Dynasty inlaid yellow pear red sandalwood "Taigu vowel" Zhongni style baiqin was sold many times more than its estimate.
In the just-concluded autumn auction "Song Yun Ning Jian" special session, there is also a Southern Song Dynasty Zhongni style "Pian Qiu" piano with a lower estimate of 23 times deal.
Bonhams Hong Kong |Eight Tone Harmony: China's ** Art Film Feather Record Special
lot 13
Ming inlaid yellow pear red sandalwood "ancient vowel" Zhongni style baiqin
Length 117 cm.
Price realised: HK$5,127,500.
Sold 3 times the ultra-low estimate.
*: Collection of Yu Bosun (1922-2013).
Private collection in California, USA, purchased by the mother of the current collector in 1981, and has since been kept by his family.
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Bonhams Hong Kong |Song Yun Ning Jian Special
lot 147
Southern Song Dynasty Zhongni style "Pian Qiu" qin
Length 1218 cm.
Price realised: HK$3,560,000.
More than an underestimate of 23 times deal.