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Uniting the treasures once admired by emperors, Sotheby’s Hong Kong proudly presents Imperial Connoisseurship: Treasures of Chinese Art from a Distinguished Private Collection. Featuring fourteen exemplary works of imperial art spanning the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the sale reveals the pinnacle of courtly craftsmanship and refined aesthetics. Each masterpiece bears the spirit and history of a cultural legacy that continues to inspire collectors around the world.

Spanning three millennia of Chinese civilization, Sotheby’s London presents an extraordinary celebration of Chinese art. From archaic bronzes to Imperial porcelain, from the elegance of Song ceramics to the refinement of the Ming and Qing dynasties, each masterpiece embodies the timeless spirit and craftsmanship of China’s artistic legacy.

Elegant, spiritual, and profoundly refined, The Ai Lian Tang Collection celebrates the harmony between craftsmanship and contemplation. Its scope, spanning a millennium of artistic brilliance, invites collectors and scholars alike to rediscover the resonance of the imperial scholar’s world.

A cross-cultural feast of contemporary art, reflecting shifting markets and the rising influence of a new generation of collectors.

Showcasing treasures from Japan, China, and India, with highlights including imperial porcelains, Song sculptures, and Ming–Qing furniture.

A landmark highlight of Asia Art Month, presenting a panoramic selection from early ceramics and jades to imperial porcelains.

A culmination of fifty years of collecting, spanning seven millennia of ceramic history, reflecting the pinnacle of Sino-Japanese cultural dialogue.

International auction house Phillips has announced a groundbreaking change to its buyer’s premium structure, effective from September 2025. The new model introduces a modest increase in the standard global buyer’s premium rates, while also unveiling a pioneering “Priority Bids” scheme that rewards early bidders with lower commission fees. All watch auctions will remain under the current fee structure without adjustments.

Helena Newman, Global Co-Head of Sotheby’s Impressionist & Modern Art and Chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, commented: “With global demand for Picasso stronger than ever, this emotionally charged portrait—emerging from one of his most pivotal years and appearing on the market for the first time—is the perfect centerpiece for our upcoming season.”

On June 24, 2025, the Sotheby’s London Modern & Contemporary Evening Auction was held as scheduled, presented by The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. The auction spanned the development of art from the inception of Impressionism to contemporary times, featuring highlights by renowned artists such as Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Tamara de Lempicka, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Jenny Saville. British female artist Marlow Moss also set a new personal auction record.

Although the Asian Art Treasures Auction held in Paris on June 12 has concluded, the strength of its lineup continues to merit the attention and reflection of collectors and scholars alike. As a major event of the Printemps Asiatique in Paris, the auction was curated by Sotheby’s and brought together Buddhist sculptures, early mandala thangkas, Indian bronzes, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasty porcelains, cloisonné enamel wares, and rarely seen archaic bronze ritual vessels from across Asia. Spanning thousands of years of Asian civilization, the offerings ranged from museum-quality masterpieces to heirloom pieces of historical and academic value.

This June, Christie’s Paris presents a highly anticipated auction of Asian Art, featuring a remarkable array of rare porcelain, cloisonné enamels, jades, Buddhist sculptures, and classical paintings. Among the highlights is an exceptionally rare blue and white stem bowl bearing a Xuande mark, formerly in the collection of a French noble family. With its refined shape and vivid dragon motif, the piece holds significant historical and market value.

Active collectors identified several key trends emerging from this season’s sales: First, high-caliber private collections continue to drive market momentum, with provenance and narrative adding significant competitive value. Second, buyers showed unwavering enthusiasm for artworks with clear art historical significance and institutional potential—willing to bid beyond estimate for such works. Third, the market is becoming more stratified, and top-tier artworks demonstrate exceptional resilience, acting as “stability anchors” amid ongoing economic volatility.

Sotheby’s Hong Kong is set to present a spectacular array of Chinese art treasures during the upcoming Asia Week in early May. The highly anticipated auction features nine highlight lots that span Buddhist relics, imperial masterpieces, and rare porcelains, drawing collectors and art enthusiasts from across the globe. Public viewing will be held from May 1 to 7.

On May 2, 2025, Christie’s Hong Kong will present “Sapphire Splendor: Imperial Blue-and-White Wares from an Important Private Collection”, a dedicated sale spotlighting masterpieces from the imperial kilns of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Among them, three exceptional imperial blue-and-white porcelains—spanning the Yongle period of the Ming dynasty to the Yongzheng and Qianlong reigns of the Qing dynasty—stand out for their exquisite craftsmanship, refined decoration, and their vivid demonstration of stylistic continuity and evolution across four centuries of porcelain art.

The success of the Sotheby’s Hong Kong Modern & Contemporary Evening Auction not only stands as a major event in the art market but also provides valuable insight into future art investment trends. As the Asian market's interest in art continues to grow, modern and contemporary art will remain at the forefront of investment discussions, becoming the new focal point for collectors and investors alike.

Christie's Hong Kong Autumn Auction saw full sales in two major special sessions: "Essence of Taiyi: The Lantian Shanfang Jade Collection" and "Elegance of Jia Wood: Selected Ming-style Furniture from 'Muquju'," both achieving the prestigious "white glove" status. Notably, the "Lantian Shanfang Jade Collection" session on November 29, 2024, delivered an exceptional performance, achieving a total sales value of HKD 214 million, accounting for nearly half of the total sales in the artifacts category.

The Christie’s auction reflected the resilience of the luxury art market and the global appetite for exceptional works. The rising recognition of Surrealism, exemplified by Magritte’s record-breaking sale, reached new heights. Furthermore, the success of the Mica Ertegun collection underscored the allure of quality artworks with deep historical context. Looking ahead, the art auction market holds significant growth potential, especially for events combining cultural significance with philanthropic missions.

Christie’s upcoming Old Master Part I auction on December 3rd at 6:30 PM GMT will present an extraordinary selection of European masterpieces spanning six centuries. This auction promises a feast of visual and cultural significance, showcasing the enduring value of Old Master works in today’s art market.

Although the global art auction market saw a noticeable decline in 2024, with sales dropping by as much as 30%-40%, high-end classic works continue to buck the trend. Reports from major auction houses like Christie's and Sotheby’s confirm a shrinking market overall, but rare, historically significant pieces like those by Van Gogh and Monet maintain their value and even experience price appreciation​ (by MYARTBROKER).

This November, Sotheby’s Chinese Art auction in London will feature over 170 top-tier lots, including Ming and Qing porcelains, early ceramics, jades, and more.

Industry experts noted that while uncertainty persists, high-end collectors remain optimistic about the long-term investment potential of rare gems, viewing them as stable stores of value. The gap between top-tier gems and mid-range stones has grown increasingly stark, with lower enthusiasm for mid-priced items.

At the 2024 Christie’s Art + Tech Summit, industry leaders like Steve Wozniak and Refik Anadol discussed AI's impact on culture. The event emphasized the growing integration of technology in art, the rise of new markets, and the importance of sustainability. It highlighted how the future of art and culture will increasingly rely on technology while balancing innovation with tradition.

The remarkable Stegosaurus Apex, sold for an astonishing $44.6 million, marks a historic moment in the paleontological and dinosaur fossil auction industry. This sale not only set a new record but also showcased an unprecedented level of transparency and meticulous documentation at every stage of the specimen's handling.

We provide below the key transaction records from this week's Sotheby's London Summer Auction for your reference. These transactions reflect the future trends of the collection market.

At the preview of Christie's Hong Kong "The Ten Perfections - Qing Imperial Ceramics from the Wang Xing Lou Collection" on May 27, two noteworthy porcelain pieces are particularly worth the attention of collectors who favor Ming and Qing dynasty ceramics.

In the Sotheby's auction in Hong Kong on April 10, 2024, the Asian art market demonstrated robust demand. Highlights of the auction included sales of Chinese artworks and jewelry, with notable attention on works by Zhang Daqian and precious jewelry collections. Additionally, significant turnover was seen in modern and contemporary art. This success reflects the sustained growth of the Chinese economy and the strong enthusiasm of collectors for art investment.

This report provides detailed insights into the trends and perspectives of the art market as observed at Art Basel. As professional art finance investors and seasoned collectors, members of the OGP collectors hope that this content will help you gain a better understanding of the current state of the art market and provide you with prudent and secure collecting guidance.

Auctions are of great interest to collectors and enthusiasts alike. Whether your interests lie in art, jewelry, watches, cars, or other rare items, auctions hosted by international auction houses provide a wealth of investment information.

We hope that this ranking serves as a valuable reference for your selection of coveted artworks, assisting you in choosing pieces that align with your personal taste and investment goals. The works of these 50 artists are considered promising choices for art investment, with the potential for favorable returns. By focusing on the quantity and total value of auctioned lots, we can better evaluate the market demand for artists, taking into account average prices and confidence metrics in the auction market, offering investors a comprehensive perspective for their investment decisions.