Asia Week New York Auction Results
Our Asian Art sales totaled an impressive $40.9 million, marking one of the highest totals in the sale series’ history. Demonstrating remarkable resilience in a dynamic market environment, the sales saw standout results across Chinese, Indian, and Japanese art.
The Modern & Contemporary South Asian Art sale led the series, with $16.8 million in sales, achieving a 95.7% sell-through rate, and 94.3% of works selling at or above their high estimates. It also saw new benchmarks set by prominent female artists such as Madhvi Parekh and Nelly Sethna, reflecting the growing recognition of women in the art world. Additionally, several artists in the sale set new auction records, such as Jehangir Sabavala’s The Journey of the Magi, which brought in $2.7 million.
A highlight of the Chinese Art sales was the 100% sell-through rate for works from museum groups, including works from the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Newark Museum of Art, and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, which sold for a total of $5.9 million (est. $1.8 to $2.6 million). A top result was Buddha Figures, an ink and color on silk handscroll (lot 257) attributed to Chen Hongshou from the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, soared to $1,416,400—an extraordinary result against its $70,000 high estimate.
To learn more about all the sales results, click here.
RECENT ASIA WEEK NEW YORK AUCTIONS
This March, explore the rich legacy of Asian Art at Sotheby’s, where tradition and innovation join in a stunning showcase. From ancient masterpieces to contemporary expressions, discover seven centuries of artistic excellence at our exhibition in our New York galleries from March 13-21, culminating with a series of live and online auctions that begin on March 17. Also be sure to join our Asian Art Lecture Series on Sunday afternoon, March 16!
Explore the full auction and lecture schedules below:
Modern & Contemporary South Asian Art
Auction: Monday, March 17, 2025 at 11am EDT
Viewing: March 13–14, 10am-5pm; March 15, 10am-6pm; March 16, 1-5pm
This Modern & Contemporary South Asian auction brings a curated selection of paintings, sculptures and works on paper from the region’s most celebrated artists. The sale is led by a masterpiece by Jagdish Swaminathan titled Homage to Solzhenitsyn spanning 13.5 feet. Painted in 1973, this triptych is a spectacular vista of the artist’s cosmos, creating a true sense of joy and wonder.
From the Estate of Bhupen Khakhar comes two double-sided cutouts by Khakhar in collaboration with Vaman Rao Khaire depicting Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha, which are emblematic of Khakhar’s embeddedness in pop culture and his idiosyncratic painting style.
Another star lot of the sale is Journey of the Magi, a 1963 masterpiece by Jehangir Sabavala. Published across preeminent scholarship about the artist since 1966, this painting depicts an important symbol in Christianity and Zoroastrianism and is a key example of Sabavala’s expert handling of color and contour as he became interested in light and how to portray it.
Other highlights include masterworks by Francis Newton Souza, Maqbool Fida Husain, Ganesh Pyne, George Keyt and Zubeida Agha.
Contact:
Manjari Sihare-Sutin
Co-Worldwide Head, Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art
(212) 894 1983
[email protected]
A rare celadon-glazed hu-form vase, Seal mark and period of Yongzheng, the base with a six-character seal mark in underglaze blue, height 16⅝ in (42.3 cm)
Chinese Art
Auction: Tuesday, March 18 and Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at 9am EDT (both days)
Viewing: March 13–14 & 17, 10am-5pm; March 15, 10am-6pm; March 16, 12-5pm
This March, Sotheby’s Chinese Art auction features a comprehensive presentation of Ming and Qing porcelains, early ceramics, jades, classical furniture and more. Leading this auction are important de-accessions from the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Newark Museum of Art, and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. The sale also features a selection of important Chinese Art from the Jane and Leopold Swergold Collection, Marchant Chinese jades, and an array of classical Chinese furnishings from an Important American Collection.
Contact:
Angela McAteer
Senior Vice President, International Head of Department, Chinese Works of Art
[email protected]
A magnificent large gilt copper alloy figure of Shakyamuni Buddha, Central Tibet, 14th c., overall height 27½ in (70 cm), Lot 563, Estimate US$600,000- US$1,500,000, Indian and Himalayan Art
Indian and Himalayan Art
Auction: Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 10am EDT
Viewing: March 13–14 & 17–19, 10am-5pm; March 15, 10am-6pm; March 16, 1-5pm
The Indian and Himalayan Art auction is led by a magnificent large Central Tibetan 14th century gilt-copper alloy figure of Shakyamuni Buddha from a distinguished Dutch private collection, and includes several private collections of Indian and Himalayan paintings, sculpture and ritual objects.
The auction opens with an important New York private collection of classical Indian paintings, many of which were acquired directly from the Ehrenfeld collection. Highlights include two folios from the Tehri Garhwal series of the Gita Govinda and an Imperial Mughal painting of mythical birds. The sale follows with twelve superb works of art from the collection of the financier and scholar Kevin R. Brine, including an important portrait of Thangpa Chenpo, commissioned for Taklung Monastery circa 1180-1210, and and a rare large 17th century silver figure of the Fifth Shamarpa Lama.
Contact:
Julian King
Senior Vice President, International Specialist, Indian and Himalayan Art
(212) 606 7304
[email protected]
ONLINE AUCTIONS
Crescent Moon (Mikazuki) | Signed Bishu Osafune Kanemitsu (Kanemitsu from Osafune in Bizen Province) | Nambokucho period, dated Enbuan gonen rokugatsu hi (a day in the 6th month 1360), Lot 1, Estimate: Upon Request
Crescent Moon, the ‘Mikazuki Kanemitsu’ from the Paul L. Davidson Collection
Auction: March 13–25, 2025 at 10am EDT
Viewing: March 13–14 & 17–21, 10am-5pm; March 15, 10am-6pm; March 16, 1-5pm
The ‘Mikazuki Kanemitsu’, or the Crescent Moon Kanemitsu, was rediscovered by Paul L. Davidson (1947-2020), the first President of the American Branch of the Nihon Bijutsu Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword]. In 2017, the late Watanabe Taeko (1937–2024), former director of the Sano Art Museum, was preparing her exhibition Treasure Swords of the Uesugi Clan. Researching, among many other sources, the list of blades designated Juyo Token [Important Sword] and Tokubetsu Juyo Token [Exceptionally Important Sword], she realised that this tachi, which had reached the latter status in 2008, was indeed the ‘Mikazuki Kanemitsu’ featured in the Uesugi sword register personally compiled by Uesugi Kagekatsu (1556-1623). This important sword will be offered for sale through Sotheby’s Sealed at 10:00AM EDT on 25th March, alongside the online sale Important Japanese Swords and Armour from the Paul L. Davidson Collection.
Contact:
Mark Hinton
Consultant
+44 20 7293 6537
[email protected]
Important Japanese Swords and Armour from the Paul L. Davidson Collection
Auction: March 13–25, 2025 at 11am EDT
Viewing: March 13–14 & 17–21, 10am-5pm; March 15, 10am-6pm; March 16, 1-5pm
Sotheby’s is proud to present Important Japanese Swords from the Paul L. Davidson Collection to be offered in New York next year March 2025. The collection comprises fine Japanese swords with examples registered as Tokubetsu Juyo [Exceptionally Important Sword], including an impressive katana attributed to the Yoshioka Ichimonji school, a tanto by Rai Kunitoshi and an early tachi blade attributed to Niji Kunitoshi. Armour and accoutrements of the samurai showcase the excellent craftmanship and quality associated with the warrior class from the Kamakura period through to the centuries of peace established by the Tokugawa shogunate until the late nineteenth century.
Contact:
Mark Hinton
Consultant
+44 20 7293 6537
[email protected]
To view the full calendar of Asian Art sales, click here.
PAST LECTURES
Gold, Jade, and Stone: Buddhist Art and Material Culture in Early China by Dr. Jin Xu
Lecture: Sunday, March 16, 2025 at 1pm EDT
1334 York Ave
A Room Within a Room, the Canopy Bed in Ming & Qing China by Nicholas Grindley
Lecture: Sunday, March 16, 2025 at 2pm EDT
1334 York Ave
