Old Century black and white jade paintings

The all-out winner was an old Century black and white jade example carved by an artist of the Soochow School that sold for $15,600 to a Hong Kong bidder, who was a big purchaser overall. The ovoid jade bottle was carved in a relief picture of travelers in rocky terrain with a fine calligraphic inscription on the reverse and museum numbers on the bottom. The stopper was of virtual coral.

The Asian sales typically attract a group of remarkably focused bidders and this week was no exception. Even though fewer bidders show up for these sales, the ones who do so more than make up for the numbers by the strength of their bidding.