Tag: Sotheby’s auction

Juin-Octobre 1985 by Zao Wou-ki broke all records at recent auction

Zao Wou-ki (1921-2013) has long been regarded as one of China’s pre-eminent modern artists whose massive masterpieces are only dwarfed by the huge prices they command (read more here).

Now, one particular item from the grandmaster’s oeuvre – Juin-Octobre 1985 – created quite a buzz when it came up for auction at Sotheby’s Modern Art Evening Sale, with its eventual price estimated to be around US$44 million. It ultimately went on to set new auction records by getting sold for US$65 million. 

Zao Wou-Ki
Zao Wou-Ki, Juin-Octobre 1985

Constructed as a three-panelled triptych – a format greatly favoured by Zao – the central canvas measures a whopping 280cm x 400cm, and is flanked by two further 280cm x 300cm panels. Commissioned by the renowned architect IM Pei – a lifelong friend of Zao’s – it hung in Singapore’s Raffles City complex until 2005, when it was auctioned by Christie’s, with the winning bid said to be in the region of HK$18 million.

Zao Wou-Ki
Installation view of Zao Wou-Ki’s triptych Juin-Octobre 1985 at Raffles City, Singapore

Putting the artist’s work into perspective, Vinci Chang, Sotheby’s Head of Modern Asian Art, said: “Zao’s paintings are held in the same regard as those of Western masters. As a consequence, we are deeply honoured to be able to present Juin-Octobre 1985, the largest painting in the artist’s oeuvre and without a doubt, a singular masterpiece and one of unparalleled importance.”

With the value of his paintings set to soar even higher as the posthumous reputation of Zao Wou-Ki continues to build, his works seem to offer that rarest combination – aesthetic delight and escalating investment value.

 Text: Tenzing Thondup

Holy Expensive: Prayer book attracts angel investors

While the wisdom of the Almighty may be freely available to all those willing supplicants who earnestly seek it out, the prices of religious manuscripts and prayer books from times Medieval and Renaissance are really rather sinful – a truth that was self-evident at a recent Sotheby’s London auction.

With the sale dedicated to such highly sought-out prayer books, as well as to antique Continental and Russian religious tracts, the lot most longed-after was the Breviary of Marie, a Roman Catholic prayer book dating back to around 1360. Once the property of Marie of France, the Duchess of Bar (1344-1404), this exquisitely illustrated volume went for a truly divine US$790,000. Commissioned by Marie’s father, King John II of France, prior to Marie’s marriage to a French nobleman, the finished volume came complete with Italian miniatures, heraldic shields, illuminated borders and the Duchess’ own coat of arms.

Prayer Book

The value of the prayer book was further enhanced by the fact its contents were written in Latin in the style of Jean Pucelle, one of the most renowned Parisian illuminators of the 14th century, while also featuring several full-page depictions of the Duchess at prayer.