Bonhams is Market Leader in Asian Art in UK and Europe

• Bonhams Asian Art UK & European sales achieve €27 million in H1 2024
• Dominance of Asian Art market cemented by prestigious collections

Bonhams continues to dominate the Asian Art market across the UK and Europe with a series of Asian Art sales running from 13 May to 14 June 2024 achieving an impressive combined total of €27 million, sold in London, Paris, Stockholm and Copenhagen.

The success of the series is part of a growing momentum for Bonhams with connoisseurs and world-renowned dealers in Asian Art looking to the auction house to offer their collections. This June saw the exceptional collection of Jules Speelman: Completing a Cycle, 60 years of Devotion, achieve an impressive€15,248,930. The 28-lot sale celebrated a lifetime’s experience, expertise and devotion from one of the greatest and most respected dealers and collectors of Chinese and Asian works of Art. The sale builds on a roll call of impressive single-owner connoisseur collections to include the Michael Goedhuis: Brush & Bronze sale, the Claude de Marteau Collection, the Robert & Jean-Pierre Rousset Collection of Asian Art, and the Roger Keverne Ltd Collection.

Private collections offering exceptional quality and provenance also saw outstanding results with the The John E. Bodie OBE (1930-2023) Collection of Chinese Art achieving more than €2.6 million in the Fine Chinese Art Sale, London, on 16 May. These results attest to Bonhams’ reputation for offering prestige Asian Art collections, with previous successes including The Marsh Collection of Art for the Literati series, which also commanded high prices in the autumn 2023 sales.

The top 5 lots across Asian Art sales for the first half of 2024 were all from the Jules Speelman: Completing a Cycle, 60 years of Devotion sale, on the 11 June at Avenue Hoche, Paris, which achieved the highest sale total in that saleroom since Bonhams acquired Cornette de Saint Cyr in June 2022.Four lots achieved more than €1 million.

The top 5 lots include:

• A gilt copper alloy figure of the Vajradhara, Nepal, early Malla Period, 14^th century sold for €4,162,400 (more than six times its pre-sale estimate of €600,000-800,000)
• A parcel-gilt silver and copper alloy figure of Ushnishavijaya, Central Tibet, 17^th century, sold for €3,920,400 (estimate: €600,000-800,000)
• A gilt copper alloy figure of Virupa, attributed to Sonam Gyaltsen, Central Tibet, circa 1430-50 sold for €1,258,400 (estimate: €150,000-200,000).
• A gilt copper alloy figure of Shri Devi by ‘Sogyal’, probably Sonam Gyaltsen, 15^th century, Central Tibet, Densatil Monastery, circa 1431-35 sold for €1,076 900, (estimate: €600,000-800,000).
  
• A silver inlaid brass figure of the Vajrapani, Central Tibet, 11^th/12^th century, sold for €762,400, (estimate: €600,000-800,000).
  

Asaph Hyman, Bonhams Global Head of Chinese Ceramics and Chinese Works of Art commented: “These are exceptional results achieved in the first half of the year, solidifying Bonhams dominance as the market leader in Chinese and Asian art across the UK and Europe. We have been especially thrilled to achieve such remarkable and historic results on behalf of Jules Speelman, one of the greatest and most respected dealers and collectors of Chinese and Asian Works of Art. We were also privileged to offer some magnificent private collections including the John E. Bodie Collection, which commanded tremendous interest – testament to his connoisseurship and the strength of the market.”

Edward Wilkinson, Global Head of Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Art, said: “Jules Speelman’s eye for quality and dedication to Himalayan Art over the past 50 years has been recognised by the market. It has been an incredible honour to be entrusted with his personal collection, and it is no wonder it inspired such passionate bidding from clients around the world.”

Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, Executive Chairman of Bonhams, said: “I’m delighted with these outstanding results which are first and foremost testimony to the expertise and exquisite taste of the collectors themselves. It is an incredible achievement by the entire Asian Art team at Bonhams led by Asaph Hyman, Global Head of Chinese Art and Edward Wilkinson, Global Head of Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Art.”

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