OGP | Collectors' Recommendations
Jun 13, 2025
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.
Auction highlights include:
• A gilt-bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara from the Dali Kingdom, 11th–12th century (Lot 10), exceptionally well preserved and depicting a tantric form within the Tibetan Buddhist system;
• A large gilt-copper standing figure of Buddha from the Tibetan Imperial period, circa 9th century (Lot 14), of great historical significance;
• A fine yellow-ground blue and white “gardenia” dish from the Zhengde reign of the Ming dynasty (Lot 151), from a Swedish private collection, in excellent condition;
• A blue and white Tianqiuping vase with a dragon design and an early Qianlong mark (Lot 161), with clear provenance and high market attention;
• The Harcourt Johnston Gui, an inscribed Western Zhou archaic bronze vessel (Lot 215), which first appeared on the market in 1940 and made a highly anticipated return to the auction stage.
The auction also featured a group of gilt-bronze and cloisonné enamel vessels (Lots 28–57), resurfacing for the first time in over 40 years since their public appearance in the 1981 landmark exhibition Die Ware aus Teufelsland at the Frankfurt Decorative Arts Museum—an exceptional opportunity for collectors to re-evaluate and acquire.
Of particular note, several imperial porcelains from the Ming and Qing dynasties came from the longstanding Swedish collection of Carl & Eiver Oldertz. The sale also included rediscovered works from Yvan Traugott, a central figure in Stockholm’s early 20th-century Chinese art community, once again reflecting the collecting trends and aesthetic tastes of European connoisseurs in the first half of the 20th century.
Catalogue Access & Follow-Up Services
Although the auction has ended, we now offer access to the full high-resolution auction catalogue to assist you in review, comparison, and study. If you have a particular interest in Asian art collections, OGP (Augpie) provides private consignment analysis and advisory services, including investment evaluation, market insight, and access to global private sales channels—helping you navigate your collecting journey with precision and confidence.