A Guide to Asia Week New York Auctions in 2023

The much-awaited annual Asia Week New York is around the corner. Top-notch international Asian art galleries and major auction houses will collaborate to celebrate Asian art and culture. The 2023 edition of Asia Week New York, now in its 14th year, will formally run from March 16 through March 24, 2023.

About Asia Week New York

The Asia Week New York Association, formerly known as Asian Art Dealers of the Upper East Side, began with the collaboration of 16 galleries. Today, it has connections with major auction houses, dealers, museums, and institutions. The non-stop, fun-filled week is organized in March of every year, attracting curators and collectors from the United States and worldwide. This year’s Asia Week New York will take place both in-person and online.

About 26 international galleries and six major auction houses– Christie’s, Sotheby’s, iGavel, Bonhams, Doyle, and Heritage Auctions– will present dedicated Asian art sales throughout the month. Japan-based gallery Shibunkaku will mark its art debut with a joint exhibition at Joan B Mirviss LTD. Buddhist art from Germany and Runjeet Singh from England will also return to the fold.

Christie’s

Christie’s will begin its Asia Week New York auctions with a Japanese and Korean art sale. Starting at 10:00 AM EDT on March 21, the event offers 187 items, including Japanese traditional paintings, Buddhist art, lacquer works, and a selection of ancient sculptures and ceramics. Collectors can find an important white porcelain Joseon-era moon jar dating back to the 18th century and a Heian-era wood sculpture of Shaka Nyorai, the Buddha Shakyamuni (USD 60,000 – $80,000).

On March 22, the auction house will present various works from across India, the Himalayas, and Southeast Asia. Additional auctions, spread through the rest of the week, offer Southeast Asian modern and contemporary works of art as well as Chinese ceramics. Christie’s will conclude its Asia Week offerings with a landmark sale of J. J. Lally & Co. items.

Bonhams

At Bonhams, art from Southeast Asia and the Himalayas will take center stage during Asia Week. Several gilt copper alloy figures and thangka Tibetan paintings lead Bonhams’ March 21 sale, including a 14th-century Tara copper figure ($600,000 – $800,000). A thangka of the Buddha, from the late 12th/ early 13th century, is also notable. This piece ($200,000 – $300,000) has many lined inscriptions written with red ink in Tibetan script. The engravings of Sanskrit mantras, Tibetan prayers, and verses from sacred Buddhist texts are arranged into the form of a yellow-outlined stupa.

Fine Japanese and Korean fine art will also hit Bonhams’ auction block this month. Several statues and porcelain wares from the Edo period stand out, including an 18th-century fine black-lacquer armor with a Myōchin School kabuto and a mask of the Goddess of Mirth. The catalog offers a spherical cloisonné-enamel jar and cover from the Meiji era, a wooden figure of Amida Buddha, and paintings from both Japan and Korea.

Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s is hosting four dedicated Asia Week New York auctions, starting with a modern and contemporary South Asian art auction on March 20. Maqbool Fida Husain’s Bull (1961) leads the listings with a $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 estimate. Born in 1915, the late Indian artist is also famously addressed as M. F. Husain. Additional auctions offer Himalayan and important Chinese ceramics. Signing off the week is the CHINA / 5000 YEARS online auction offering early ceramics, bronzes, furniture, and more.

Doyle

To mark 2023’s Asia Week, Doyle will offer an Asian works of art sale on March 22. Artifacts from Japan, China, and elsewhere in Asia dating from the Neolithic period through the 20th century will be highlighted. A rare and unusual Imperial Chinese blue and white porcelain Tibetan-style ewer from the Qianlong period leads the catalog ($20,000 – $40,000). The 9.25-inch tall piece has a dome base and a globular body with lotus decorations, Buddhist emblems, and intricate designs. Chinese porcelain and vessel collectors will find many noteworthy items in this event.

Heritage Auctions

Heritage Auctions will offer 228 pieces of Asian art during Asia Week this year. The Fine & Decorative Asian Art sale will begin on March 21 at 10:50 AM EDT. Among the leading lots is a Tibetan gilt bronze Mahasiddha figure. The available piece depicts one of the Mahasiddhas or Bodhisattvas seated in a relaxed posture with legs interlocked ($60,000 – $80,000). Other notable lots include an artwork titled Waterfall by artist Huang Junbi, as well as a Chinese Taoist priest robe from the Qing Dynasty and several antique decorative items.

iGavel

iGavel will feature an eye-catching array of Asian works of art from the collection of The Dayton Art Institute. The ongoing sale will continue and conclude on March 21. Some of the noteworthy pieces include a large Chinese jar with peach blossoms, an enameled porcelain garden stool from the Qing dynasty, and antique lanterns.

Auction Daily will continue its coverage of the 14th annual Asia Week New York as the events develop.