Chinese Art, Ceramics Draw Record Bids at NY Auctions

Chinese artworks and ceramics have been setting record prices at auction in New York this week, with works by contemporary artists providing the excitement on Wednesday. "Bloodline: Three Comrades," a work by Zhang Xiaogang, considered one of China's top figurative artists, went for 2.1 million dollars, just over the upper estimate at an auction at Sotheby's.

The piece, painted in 1994, depicts three people wearing Red Guard armbands and was among several works by the artist on sale.

"Goldfish," by Yue Minjun, described as a work of the cynical realism movement of the early 1990s, reached 1.3 million dollars, almost double the upper estimate of 700,000 dollars.

A large, square oil on canvas by Leng Jun titled "Five Pointed Star," depicting a wrinkled, aged and battered star, even further outshone expectations, fetching 1.2 million dollars, nearly triple its upper estimate.

The sales come amid rising interest in contemporary Chinese art, which, according to Henry Howard-Sneyd, deputy chairman of Sotheby's Asia and Europe, saw something of a watershed last year.

"2006 was a defining year for Chinese contemporary art in the international arena, characterized by unprecedented recognition of the field in both the East and the West," he said in a statement.

On Tuesday, an extended bidding battle for a rare bronze wine vessel from the 13th to 11th century BC was bought by an English museum for more than eight million dollars at Sotheby's -- more than double its upper estimate and setting a record for a Chinese piece handled by the auction house.

A large limestone chimera, meanwhile, went for 5.4 million dollars, setting a record for a Chinese stone sculpture at auction.