Asian art enjoys its New York trip

Asian celebrations were centred around the International Asian Art Fair at the Seventh Regiment Armory, the event which a decade ago spawned this Spring Asiafest in New York, and there are early reports that the fair celebrated its tenth anniversary with vintage sales.

More on that, though, in coming weeks, although I can verify that distinguished London Asian art dealer John Eskenazi, enjoyed bumper business. His sales included the centrepiece of his stand, an 11th century bronze family group of Shiva, his wife Parvati and son Skanda seated together on Mount Kailasha. It went to an American collector for a seven-figure sum.

Two gallery shows by London-based dealers which we already know proved a big success were those held by Giuseppe Eskenazi at PaceWildenstein and by Himalayan art specialists Rossi & Rossi at the Barbara Mathes Gallery in the Fuller Building, East 57th Street.

The shows held by Eskenazi are always a high spot of the week and as with all their exhibitions Ancient Chinese Bronzes and Sculpture proved both an academic and instant commercial triumph.

There were just 12 exhibits in this year’s show, all rare and highly priced, and within 24 hours of the opening on March 28 five had sold.

One of the first to go was an exceptional Bodhisattva from the 13th to 15th century which went to a European collector while one of the stars of the show, an archaic bronze ding of 770-476 BC with a seven figure dollar price tag, also went to a European collector.

Rossi & Rossi’s contribution Treasures from Mongolia: Buddhist Sculpture from the School of Zanabazar was billed as the first ever selling exhibition devoted to Mongolian sculpture and judging by intial reaction it will not be the last.

Again opening on April 28, on the first day 18 of the 26 pieces sold to buyers from India, the UK and the USA, and three more sold soon after.