Antique European furniture under the hammer

2014-08-10 00:00:00

 

SHANGHAI'S first major auction of antique European furniture will be held tomorrow.

The Hosane 2010 Autumn Auction will feature 77 pieces of antique European furniture, paintings and other decorative objects.

A French Louis XV-style bureau plat designed by Henry Dasson is one of the highlights.

Dasson is one of the most important furniture makers of the second half of 19th century, renowned for the high quality of his ormolu mounts with extraordinary mercurial gilding.

One of Dasson's representative pieces, the Rococo bureau plat is luxurious, elegant, and a rare find in European classical furniture. The estimated price is 2 to 2.8 million yuan (US$300,984-US$481,383), close to the prices of some Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasty ancient Chinese furniture.

Other pieces on offer at the auction include a Napoleon III porcelain mounted round table from the French imperial Sevres Porcelain, a porcelain factory at Sevres. It is now run by the French Ministry of Culture.

Another piece is a Napoleon III gilded standing clock, expected to fetch at least 3 million yuan.

"In recent years, some Chinese people demand high-quality living and furnishings," said Yu Xiaoqin, spokeswoman at the Hosane auction house. "However, at present, buyers have very limited options in China. We hope this auction will introduce classical antique furniture from Europe to local people."

Today's taste in decor tends to be eclectic and discerning buyers seek items from various parts of the world.

"We often receive specialized request for antique European furniture from our clients," Yu said, "and this inspired us to 'be the first to eat the crab' in the market."

Hosane plans a series of sales of Western antique furniture.

"The purchasing power of local people and their aesthetic taste are really beyond expectations," she added.

Contemporary oils

Besides the antique European furniture, the Hosane Autumn Auction includes 138 Chinese contemporary canvases and sculptures, including representative works from the Hubei Pop Art Movement, Star Movement, Oriental Philosophical Thinking and New Realism periods, all critical chapters in China's contemporary art history from artists such as Zhou Tiehai and Liu Jianhua.

"Many say that the rocketing prices for some ancient Chinese ink-wash painting and calligraphy will stimulate the price of contemporary artworks, and we will soon know the answer from the results of this auction," Yu said.

 

Previews

Antique European furniture and decoration

Date: Today, 10am-6pm

Address: Shanghai JC Mandarin Hotel, 1225 Nanjing Rd W.

 

Contemporary canvas and sculpture

Date: Today, 10am-6pm

Address: The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai, 1376 Nanjing Rd W.

 

Auction

Date: Tomorrow, 12:45pm

Address: Shanghai JC Mandarin Hotel, 1225 Nanjing Rd W.