The Yangzhou Calligraphy and Painting Art Auction Concludes - The "Popularity King" painting price surges 20 times
Yesterday afternoon, the second China Yangzhou Calligraphy [bulk calligraphy and painting] Art Auction was held at Gehua Ju Li in Ge Garden. This auction was jointly organized by Wanjia Culture Media Development Co., Ltd. of Yangzhou Press Media Group and Beijing Bainaji Folk Art Auction Co., Ltd.
With a starting bid of 200 yuan, this auction attracted nearly 60 buyers to compete for bids, resulting in a high success rate of 70% over the nearly two-hour auction. The final total transaction amount reached 1.6 million yuan.
The auction scene was full of excitement as it gradually entered its climax, with the "Bidding King" and "Raising Sign King" emerging one after another.
Our reporter Wang Rong
"Renowned Masters" and "Grassroots Artists" Competing on the Same Stage
At 12:30 PM yesterday, an hour before the official start of the auction, the number of people entering Building No. 61 at Huaju Li noticeably increased. Most people rushed straight to the bidding registration counter upon arriving at the second floor, depositing a 5,000 yuan auction security deposit. For a time, the sound of the bill counter did not cease. After obtaining their registration badges, many buyers immediately found seats, flipping through the auction catalogues for their final research.
At 1:29 PM, one minute before the official start of the auction, two buyers hurried to the scene, drawing everyone's attention with the sound of the bill counter. When these two buyers successfully obtained their bidding badges, the total number of participants reached 57. It was understood that the lowest starting bid for this auction was 200 yuan, and the highest was 280,000 yuan. Among the items, there were works from famous artists such as Fu Baoshi, Shi Lu, Qi Baishi, Zhang Daqian, Qi Gong, Liu Haisu, and others. Besides these renowned high-end painters, works from ordinary grassroots painters were also quite common. Moreover, a relatively high proportion of works came from famous local Yangzhou calligraphers and painters, which was another significant feature of this auction. Multiple well-known artists like Li Shenghe, Li Yaru, Wang Banzai, Lin Sanzhi, Chen Zhongnan, Guo Rong, and Ge Xin all had works included.
A Restaurant Wins 46 Paintings Becoming the "Raising Sign King"
At yesterday's auction site, the most eye-catching participant was undoubtedly Xu Yinghong, the executive vice general manager of Fuchun Catering Group. As he frequently raised his sign to secure auction items, he naturally became the uncontested "Raising Sign King" of the day. According to statistics, Xu Yinghong acquired a total of 46 calligraphy and painting works, accounting for approximately one-sixth of the total items.
After the roughly two-and-a-half-hour auction concluded, Xu Yinghong joyfully told reporters that he had already checked out the preview several days ago in preparation for this auction. This bidding process went very smoothly, "I managed to get back almost all the paintings I wanted."
When asked why someone in the catering industry would come to support the calligraphy and painting auction, Xu Yinghong candidly revealed that the primary purpose of attending this auction was precisely to expand his catering business. "Fuchun should create a strong scholarly atmosphere for diners." Xu Yinghong introduced that the 46 works obtained this time would be entirely used for shop decoration, soft renovations of private rooms, etc., "allowing diners to appreciate fine cuisine while evaluating the art styles, receiving spiritual enlightenment." It was noted that among the 46 works obtained by Xu Yinghong, the majority were from local Yangzhou artists, with works related to ingredients being particularly abundant. Xu Yinghong frankly admitted that buns are traditional delicacies of Yangzhou, matching perfectly with the works of local Yangzhou artists, vividly interpreting the rich cultural style of Yangzhou.
Strongest "Popularity King": Price Soars from 200 Yuan to 4500 Yuan
Compared to other auction items with starting prices often reaching thousands of yuan, a work titled "Qing Gong" by contemporary painter Zong Yin seemed rather humble, with a mere starting price of 200 yuan. This piece was a vertical ink paper artwork, inscribed as "Made by Leshan Elder in the deep autumn of Wuwu year, at the age of seventy-seven." Surprisingly, this seemingly ordinary item became the "Popularity King" of the night.
At the auction site, discerning bidders simultaneously recognized the value of this piece, fiercely competing for it.
Round after round of price increases followed, with bidders showing no signs of stopping until one determined buyer finally secured the painting for 4500 yuan after more than ten rounds of intense bidding. From 200 yuan to 4500 yuan, the price surged more than twentyfold, making this unassuming piece the standout in terms of price increase that night.
Mysterious "Bidding King": Secures Shi Lu's Masterpiece for 280,000 Yuan
Shi Lu's masterpiece "Yulong Bai Xue Yi Tian Qing," known for its legendary artist, was the highest starting-priced item of the day.
Surprisingly, as soon as the auctioneer finished speaking, one bidder swiftly raised their sign, ultimately securing the painting for 280,000 yuan without any further competition.
Subsequently, this mysterious bidder also acquired 14 other famous works, totaling over 530,000 yuan, becoming the "Bidding King" of the night due to the highest individual and total amounts spent. Since this bidder chose to remain anonymous, despite searching extensively in the transaction area, we were unable to meet the true identity of this mysterious buyer. However, according to informed sources, this bidder was a professional speculator who frequently attended various calligraphy and painting auctions, investing heavily in purchased items.
Market-Oriented Positioning Becomes Trend in Auction Market
In May this year, the first China Yangzhou Calligraphy and Painting Art Auction was held at Gehua Ju Li in Ge Garden. At that auction, the wit and acumen of Hou Jianyong, assistant general manager of Beijing Zhongmao Auction House and nationally registered auctioneer, left a deep impression on both the on-site buyers and Yangzhou citizens. Yesterday, this returning auctioneer praised the 70% success rate greatly.
"Compared to the first edition, I clearly feel the much livelier atmosphere and heightened participation enthusiasm, indicating that Yangzhou's auction market is rapidly developing," said Hou Jianyong. He believed that focusing on local calligraphers and painters and setting low, accessible prices was a wise choice by the organizers.
Hou Jianyong thought that using works by local renowned masters as the main auction items ensures authenticity and recognition, allowing ordinary people to afford and willingly purchase them. "It's evident that this was a very successful market positioning. As a medium-sized city, this is the trend for Yangzhou's future auction market and the inevitable path for emerging auction markets," said Hou Jianyong.
This article was first published on [Calligraphy and Painting Wholesale · Xianyunxuan] http://www.xyx-gy.com. [Calligraphy and Painting Wholesale · Xianyunxuan] specializes in the creation of calligraphy and painting crafts, operating in bulk calligraphy and painting, Buddhist bead wholesale, Buddhist bead bracelets, landscape paintings, bulk Chinese paintings, Chinese calligraphy, brush calligraphy, and other premium artworks and hand-carved wooden products. Professional quality, worthy of trust, welcome to discuss cooperation. For more detailed information, please visit the official website: http://www.xyx-gy.com!
[Chinese Friendly Link Platform http://www.cnlianjie.com/ provides quick exchange and trading of friendly links; webmasters can freely post exchange links, sell links to earn money, and buy links to improve weight on our platform.]
Related thematic articles:
Huang Tingjian's Calligraphy Achievements and Aesthetic (Part II)
Southern Song Ma Yuan's "Tapping Song Figure" Scroll Appreciation