Song Dynasty Ceramic Breaks Record, Sells For $26.7M In Hong Kong

Nicolas Chow, Sotheby�s Asia Deputy Chairman, holds the Chinese Song Dynasty ceramics Ruyao Washer at the Sotheby's auction in Hong Kong Wednesday, April 4, 2012. The 900-year-old dish smashed the world record for Chinese Song Dynasty ceramics sold at auction, fetching US$26.7 million. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

HONG KONG -- A 900-year-old dish has smashed the record for Chinese Song dynasty ceramics sold at auction, fetching $26.7 million.

Sotheby's said Wednesday that eight bidders competed for the Ruyao washer over 15 minutes before it sold for 208 million Hong Kong dollars ($26.7 million). That was triple the pre-sale estimate.

Sotheby's said the price surpassed the previous record set in April 2008 for Song dynasty ceramics, when a vase sold by the auction house went for HK$67.5 million.

The auction house said the flower-shaped bowl was from a private Japanese collection and was "arguably the most desirable piece of Ru official ware remaining in private hands."

The auction result underscores Hong Kong's position as the world's third largest auction hub, driven by soaring demand from newly wealthy Chinese collectors.

Comments

[orange county man]

11:29 PM on 04/06/2012

I am gonna guess that frosted flakes taste just a little bit better is this bowl.

[Capitalism Rocks]

07:18 PM on 04/05/2012

I would respectfully say that ancient art has special value, but this seems more like a runaway biding match than a fair market value price. Which means often fools can set the price of art not an appraiser. Sotheby's and the seller did well on this action. Next!

[Michael Kittredge]

03:55 PM on 04/05/2012

They've got a lot on their plate

[Sheldonrs]

02:39 PM on 04/05/2012

All that money and the plate doesn't even have a picture of Elvis on it?!!!

[suennui]

10:41 AM on 04/05/2012

Hope the new owner isn't a fan of plate smashing therapy. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3909595/Stressed-Japanese-workers-smash-plates-to-ease-recession-blues.html

[karen lyons kalmenson]

07:11 AM on 04/05/2012

now that's some collection plate

[Marie Speranza]

01:03 AM on 04/05/2012

If one is not a miliionaire plus, it would mean nothing...but to collectors, knowing it is a certain period of time with limited pieces around it is worth millions...that's what people do with their millions...they buy what cannot be reproduced...sure copies can be made, but copies are for those who cannot afford musem pcs of art. One make not be able to afford even going to the museum or even know of such things...but on a serious note, it can appreciated.

[Lifencompass]

11:48 AM on 04/05/2012

I couldn't live with myself knowing that I spent so much on a plate when a tenth of a tenth of that money could have changed someone's life.

[morenenuf]

09:47 PM on 04/07/2012

Actually, way less than that could change many many people's lives... dramatically.

[Gronkie]

12:25 AM on 04/05/2012

It looks like it would make a nice cereal bowl. Pass the Frosted Flakes!

[karen lyons kalmenson]

07:11 AM on 04/05/2012

cheerio;-D

[pktompa]

05:23 PM on 04/04/2012

To help understand why this Sotheby's auction is taking place in Hong Kong rather than New York, see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wayne-sayles/trade-sanction-coin-collectors_b_1400563.html

[harpred]

05:05 PM on 04/04/2012

To the devil with the lottery. I need to start digging!

[Lechiffre]

03:09 PM on 04/04/2012

Just what I needed for my Quish Lorrein

[orange county man]

11:30 PM on 04/06/2012

Maybe you could start with a French / English dictionary.

[Lechiffre]

04:08 AM on 04/07/2012

Tu n'en rates pas une !!

[Borton Piswanjani]

03:08 PM on 04/04/2012

...picked up a dozen just like it at Crate and Barrell for $9.47....

[MikeElPaso]

08:00 PM on 04/06/2012

Please contact us at [phone]. We have a Chinese investor who is interested in seeing your set and bidding on it.

— Sotheby's

[Arnold Visconti]

02:53 PM on 04/04/2012

This is Bush's fault

[niceguy71653]

02:41 PM on 04/04/2012

They could have collected the set at Tom Thumb with only $100 per week in grocery purchases.

[Northern Observer]

02:31 PM on 04/04/2012

Should have invited the buyer to my wedding and only registered for Song Dynasty place settings.

[orange county man]

11:31 PM on 04/06/2012

Good one.