CHICAGO, IL.- Hindman’s June 25-26, Asian Works of Arts auction, has continued the department’s trend in achieving solid results, yet again surpassing presale estimates. Strong presale interest and competitive bidding over multiple telephone lines and online bidding platforms helped push the sale total beyond expectations, ultimately realizing $1.2M. Bidders participated from around the globe, but the most enthusiastic bidding came from mainland China where the interest in acquiring Chinese works of art remains high.

While interest was strong across all categories, the truly rare and most exquisite works of art saw robust bidding, driving the auction to its outstanding result. The top lot of the auction, a 17th century, white glazed figure of Budai Buddha depicted seated with flowing robes (lot 300), sold for $83,200 against a presale estimate of $4,000-6000.

Lot 300. A White Glazed Figure of Budai Buddha, 17th century. Height 6 5/8 in., 16.8 cm. Estimate $4,000 - $5,000. Sold for $83,200. Courtesy Hindman.

the laughing Buddha modeled seated, wearing a loose robe, with his right hand rest on the knee and left holding a sack, all above a fitted wood stand.

Offered as part of the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts, the provenance, age and condition all contributed to this stellar result. Additionally, the cover lot of the sale, a rare incised and green enameled porcelain ‘dragon’ bowl decorated with a writhing bright green dragon amongst clouds (lot 52), realized an exceptional $81,250. This 16th century bowl was consigned as part of a Lake Forest, Illinois estate and was estimated at $15,000-20,000.

Lot 52. A Rare Incised and Green Enameled Porcelain 'Dragon' Bowl, Zhengde Period (1506-1521). Diam 7 3/4 in., 19.68 cm. Estimate: $15,000 - $20,000. Price Realized: $81,250. Courtesy Hindman.

the deep rounded walls resting on a short straight foot, rising to a slightly flaring mouth rim, the exterior incised two striding five-clawed dragons glazed with a bright green enamel, amongst incised waves, the interior centered with a medallion enclosing another sinuous five-clawed dragon surrounded by flame-form clouds, with a single green enameled line to the mouth rim, the underside bearing a Zhengde six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double ring and of the period.

Lot 77. A Famille Rose Porcelain 'Boys' Plaque, Early 20th century. with an artist's seal, Wang Qi hua yin. Height 7 x width 4 1/2 in., 17.8 x 11.5 cm. Estimate $1,000-2,000. Sold for $18,750. Courtesy Hindman.

Property from the Estate of Colonel John L. Walker and Mattie Mae Walker, Mexico, Missouri.