Utagawa Hiroshige, Twilight Hill at Meguro (Tôto Meguro yûhi no kei) (detail), Series: Thirty-six Views of Mt Fuji (Fuji sanjûrokkei), 1858, color woodblock print
Our nine-day Autumn edition brought together 18 distinguished galleries and six leading auction houses, presenting a vibrant array of exhibitions, auctions, and programs both in person and online. From Japanese woodblock prints and ceramics to Chinese paintings, Korean art, and South Asian modernism, the season offered collectors and audiences an expansive look at the breadth and diversity of Asian art today. We’re delighted to share a selection of highlights from our member dealers and auction houses, celebrating standout sales, exhibitions, and memorable moments from Asia Week New York Autumn 2026!
Kiyomizu Rokubey VIII 八代 清水六兵衞, Remnants of Heat 26-F, 熱の痕跡, 2026, artist’s mark impressed on base, stoneware, 9 × 9 × 9 in. (22.5 × 23 × 23 cm)
Dai Ichi Arts, Ltd. was pleased to present Kiyomizu Rokubey: 250 Years of Ceramic Expression from Kyoto, a landmark exhibition celebrating eight generations of artistic expression from one of Kyoto’s most distinguished ceramic families. Featuring works from the 4th through 8th generations, the exhibition traced more than two centuries of innovation and offered a rare opportunity to encounter the Kiyomizu dynasty in New York. Kiyomizu Rokubey VIII attended the opening reception, adding a special dimension to the occasion. Among the standout works sold was his Remnants of Heat 26-F, 熱の痕跡 exemplifying his radical approach to clay and the vessel form through geometric abstraction, hollow interiors, and planes of negative space.
Kaori Someya, Pictures of Seasonal Changes in Dress 四季遷衣図(しきせんいず), 2026, pair of two-panel folding screens: gold leaf, silver leaf, mineral pigments, dye, washi paper, and animal glue, H70 7/8 x W141 3/4 x D3/4 in. overall (H180 x W360 x D2 cm overall)
Ippodo Gallery’s exhibition of Kaori Someya’s work at Ippodo Gallery opened with great enthusiasm, attracting a strong flow of visitors who showed considerable interest in her contemporary approach to Nihonga. Guests have been particularly fascinated by the distinctive combination of traditional Japanese techniques and a contemporary conceptual approach. With Someya in New York through early October, guests have enjoyed the rare opportunity to meet the artist and learn more about her creative process firsthand. The exhibition has also generated strong sales and attracted new clients, reflecting the growing attention the exhibition is receiving. The recent Artist Talk drew an enthusiastic audience, offering further insight into Someya’s artistic practice.
IGUCHI DAISUKE (b. 1975), Ash-coated vessel with silver slip, 2026, glazed stoneware, 12 1/2 x 12 1/2 x 9 3/4 in. Courtesy Joan B Mirviss LTD, Photography by Richard P. Goodbody
Joan B Mirviss LTD presented Patina of Time: The Clay Art of Iguchi Daisuke, a long-anticipated solo exhibition featuring a new body of 29 works that explore the passage of time. In addition to being on view in the gallery, the exhibition was also presented online, complete with a digital catalog, which garnered attention from collectors outside of the New York area. The online presentation in particular attracted interest from new collectors, many of whom ultimately acquired a work. The many pathways of engagement generated the kind of enthusiastic response that they’ve come to expect from Asia Week, and it translated into a substantial number of sales. As of Friday, September 25, 22 of the 29 total works have found new homes, with one destined for a prominent East Coast institution with a well-established collecting interest in East Asian art.
Ōhi Toshio Chōzaemon XI, Ōhi Ceremonial Vessel, 2025, stoneware, 9 ½ × 14 × 7 in. (24 × 35.5 × 17.8 cm)
Onishi Gallery was pleased to place several works from their recent exhibition, Across the Sea: Onishi Gallery with Homo Faber, including Ōhi Toshio Chōzaemon XI’s distinctive Ōhi Ceremonial Vessel and Onihira Keiji’s Maki-e Box “Ōmurasaki Between Sun and Shade.” The exhibition brought together works by ten artists, four of whom also participated in the 2026 edition of Homo Faber in Venice, highlighting the dynamic interplay between traditional craftsmanship, innovation, and contemporary artistic practice.
Kawase Hasui (1883-1957), Selection of Scenes from Japan: No. 12, Goryo, Amakusa, 1922, woodblock print, 12 1/8 by 8 7/8 in. (30.8 by 22.6 cm)
Scholten Japanese Art was fortunate to have a lovely ‘capsule collection’ of modern Japanese woodblock prints which had been tucked away in a closet on the Upper West Side since the early 1980s. It was a delight to represent, and buyers were quick to make up their minds. It was probably the fastest-selling collection they have ever handled. The first print to sell from the group was a very early and extremely rare Hasui from 1922, which was deftly nabbed by a new but prescient collector who happened to visit the gallery just as they were preparing the exhibition.
Kikuchi Keigetsu (1879–1955), Chinese Beauty in a Garden, 1920s, Japan, hanging scroll; ink, mineral colors, shell powder and gold on silk, overall size: 92½ x 25½ in.
Thomsen Gallery recorded a notable sale this season with Kikuchi Keigetsu’s (1879–1955) Chinese Beauty in a Garden, an important 1920s scroll painting by one of the leading Japanese painters of his generation. Featured in Japanese Masterpieces: 17th–21st Centuries, the painting was part of an exceptional selection spanning four centuries of Japanese fine art, from hanging scrolls by prominent Taishō and early Shōwa-era painters to exquisite ikebana baskets and contemporary bronzes.
Jizhou Conical Tea Bowl with Paper-cut Phoenix Decoration, Southern Song Dynasty, 1127-1279 AD, China, diameter: 15.2 cm
Zetterquist Galleries‘ ongoing exhibition, Chinese and Japanese Ceramics; Featuring Modern Japanese Ceramics from 1930’s – 1990’s, was well-received during September Asia Week and they look forward to welcoming more visitors throughout the fall by appointment. This Southern Song Dynasty Jizhou Tea Bowl with Phoenix Design cut-out pattern, was of particular interest, as a similar piece recently sold in the Sothebys Okada Museum auction for over HK$10 million.
Our auction house members enjoyed a dynamic Autumn season as well, with strong results across a diverse range of sales and several new records set, underscoring continued enthusiasm for Asian art among collectors. Below are a few highlights from our member auction houses:
A Magnificent Gilt-Copper-Alloy Glass-Embellished Elephant Stand, Qianlong/Jiaqing period. Sold for $610,100
Bonhams September Asia Week New York at its U.S. flagship galleries at 111 West 57th Street brought together collectors from across the globe, with three live auctions and two online sales realising a combined total of US$5.74 million. The series featured notable results across Chinese, Japanese, and Korean art, highlighting the breadth of material offered and the enduring appeal of works representing Asia’s rich cultural heritage. Leading the sale week was a Magnificent Gilt-Copper-Alloy Glass-Embellished Elephant Stand, Qianlong/Jiaqing period, which after spirited bidding, exceeded its estimate over four-fold, when it sold for $610,100.
To read the full press release and view all the top lots, click here.
A Very Rare Waistless Huanghuali Daybed, 17th century. Price realized: $3,170,000
Christie’s September Asian Art Week totaled $58,079,952 over four live and two online auctions that together offered 947 lots, selling 91 percent of those lots for more than 2.6 times the combined low estimate. In a sign of the international strength of this category, 46 percent of buyers were from North America and 39 percent from Asia. This September marks yet another season in which Christie’s achieved the best results at auction during a New York Asian Art Week. The top lot of the week at Christie’s was a very rare waistless Huanghualí Daybed, which sold for $3,170,616 in their Important Chinese Art sale. Among the season’s highlights, Hiroshige: Colors of the Four Seasons | The Alan Medaugh Collection totaled $6.99 million, with all 181 lots sold, while South Asian Modern + Contemporary reached $22.57 million, selling every lot and setting eight world records.
To read the full press release and view all the top lots, click here.
Left: An Exceptionally Rare Chinese Yellow Ground and Underglaze Blue Porcelain Moon Flask, Baoyueping; Property from the Collection of a Distinguished Family from Westchester. Sold for $121,150. Right: A Chinese Ming-Style Blue and White Porcelain Moon Flask, Bianhu,; Property from the Estate of an Elegant Lady. Sold for $83,050
Doyle’s two-day Asian Works of Art sale on September 16–17, 2026 attracted bidders from around the globe and delivered outstanding results. The sale showcased a wide range of porcelain and ceramics, bronzes, jades, snuff bottles, scholar’s objects, furniture, paintings and other traditional arts representing centuries of East and South Asian history and culture. Among the highlights were two exceptional Chinese porcelain moon flasks distinguished by their sophisticated decoration and imperial provenance. The rare Yongzheng-period yellow-ground and underglaze blue moon flask from the Collection of a Distinguished Family from Westchester featured lotus, peony and chrysanthemum blossoms painted in the Ming “heaped and piled” style, with a subtle three-dimensional effect. Determined bidders sent the moon flask soaring over its $15,000-20,000 estimate to achieve $121,150. A Qianlong period blue and white moon flask decorated with the Eight Buddhist Emblems surrounded by lotus blossoms in vivid cobalt blue more than doubled its estimate $20,000-40,000 to realize $83,050. The sale also featured works from the Estate of Diane A. Nixon, with additional property to be offered in select auctions throughout the Fall season.
To read the full press release and view all the top lots, click here.
A Magnificent, Monumental, and Extremely Rare Chinese Blue and White ‘Nine Dragons’ Vase, Qing Dynasty, Jiaqing/Daoguang Period, Lot 286. Sold for $1,036,800
Across back-to-back sales on September 17 and 18, Freeman’s saw $3.7 million worth of Asian Art sell in its New York saleroom, with both sales soaring past their presale estimates and highlighting a thriving auction market. Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Estate of Dr. Thomas Klein nearly quadrupled its presale estimate, achieving $687,168, with all 117 lots selling. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. 88 additional lots from the collection will be offered in an online auction closing October 8. Not to be outdone, Asian Works of Art on September 18 saw staggering results throughout the day, headlined by a magnificent, monumental, and extremely rare Chinese blue and white ‘Nine Dragons’ vase from the Qing Dynasty that sold for $1,036,800.
To read the full press release and view all the top lots, click here.
A Rare and Exceptional Chinese Molded Famille Rose Figure of the Arhat (Luohan) Rahula, 18th century. Sold for $300,000
Heritage Auctions’ September 16 Asian Art Signature® Auction delivered an impressive $1.07 million, with 211 of 237 lots sold and an 89% sell-through rate by lot. Leading the sale was a rare 18th-century Chinese imperial famille rose figure of the Arhat Rahula, which soared to $300,000 against a $40,000–60,000 estimate—more than five times the high estimate and the clear standout of the auction.
