A rare major work by clay artist Kawai Kanjiro, a flattened vessel (henko) with flaring mouth and sançai red, green and black iron-oxide glazes on unglazed Shigaraki clay body, circa 1960. Courtesy of Joan B. Mirviss Ltd.
NEW YORK CITY — Despite the frigid temperatures, Asia Week New York — the ten-day Asian art extravaganza — which concluded on March 18, roared to a close with a record-breaking $423,772,742 in combined sales. The results include 50 galleries and five auction houses — Bonhams, Christie’s, Doyle, iGavel and Sotheby’s. The annual event was celebrated with a gala reception on March 13, co-hosted with the Asian department of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Thomas P. Campbell, director of the Metropolitan Museum; Mike Hearn, chair of the Asian art department; and Lark Mason, chairman of Asia Week New York welcomed 750 collectors, curators and Asian art specialists. The event ignited excitement even further when the Asian art world buzzed with recording-breaking auction sales that were packed with international buyers from Mainland China, Taiwan, India, Japan, Korea, Europe and the United States.
“We have firmly sold 79 works of art, which is record for us,” said Joan Mirviss of her eponymous New York gallery. “Several other works are pending approval with institutions. Most are with established collectors and museum clients, but we have had new visitors making acquisitions too.” Among the notable sales were a rare woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu titled “The Evening Bell of the Clock,” circa 1766; a rare major work by clay artist Kawai Kanjiro; a flattened vessel (henko) with flaring mouth and sançai red, green and black iron-oxide glazes on unglazed Shigaraki clay body, circa 1960; and a blue craquelure celadon long-necked kinutashaped vase by Okabe Mineo, circa 1969.
