Paris, March 9, 2023 – Pioneering the market for artists from Asia, Aguttes organized a grand quarterly event called Asia Weeks from Thursday, February 16 to March 9, 2023 with a total transaction value of 1 863 248 EUR
« Our primary concern is to protect the interests of auction sellers and auction buyers. The Asian Weeks are organized helping buyers and sellers to experience an on-demand service, and make high-value transactions comfortably and securely in a near-by auction. With our many years of experience in this field, international clients can access works that suit their requirements and timetable. Customers trust our work and the world records we achieved in Paris are the clearest proof for quality of the service we provide. » —Charlotte Aguttes-Reynier, expert
Mai Trung Thứ. Mother and her son who is sleeping. Sold for 462.960 EUR.
Asian painters, major works–Top 5:
- Lot 8 – MAI TRUNG THỨ (1906-1980), Mother and her son who is sleeping, 1944 – 462 960 EUR
- Lot 6 – LÊ PHỔ (1907-2001), Meditation, khoảng 1940 – 271 560 EUR
- Lot 13 – LÊ PHỔ (1907-2001), Two sisters – 127 400 EUR
- Lot 16 – LƯƠNG XUÂN NHỊ (1914-2006), Welcome Tết – 104 000 EUR
- Lot 14 – MAI TRUNG THỨ (1906-1980), Combing hair, 1958 – 91 000 EUR
Without missing any appointments, art lovers pay special attention to Mai Trung Thứ’s works. After giving up the oil medium he had been attached to since the beginning of his career, Mai Trung Thứ turned to silk painting, a technique he had reached to the pinnacle, fading the hues of colors by washing the silk many times. Characterizing the artist’s style in the years 1944, Mother and her son who is sleeping (lot 8) was successfully traded for EUR 462,960. Composed for the artist’s second exhibition at the Pasteur gallery, Alger, this work belongs to the collection of Guiauchain, in the famous Algerian architectural empire. The Guiauchain family was close to the Annamite royal family and kept a great deal of Asian art and furniture. The appearance of this silk painting in the family collection is a testament to the close relationship between Guiauchain and the royal family of Annam. In fact, the queen consort of Annam personally gifted the work to the Guiauchain family. The work has been kept in the collection until today!
Mai Trung Thứ. Combing hair. Sold for 91.000 EUR.
Another work by Mai Trung Thứ (lot 14) has particularly attracted the attention of the auction participants, despite its very small size – the work: Combing hair, 1958, has been sold for a great price 91,000 EUR.
Another artist that is of great interest to art lovers in each auction is: Lê Phổ!
Graduating from the same class as painter Mai Trung Thứ at Indochina Fine Arts College, Lê Phổ strove for perfection in his works, thanks to a training process that combined Eastern and Western art traditions. The piece Meditation (lot 6), circa 1940, caught the attention of the bidders and fetched 271,560 EUR. The 1940s clearly marked the artist’s figurative style, and like what is shown in this silk painting, he brought all the quintessence of Western culture and skillfully blended it with tradition of Far East. Every detail in the composition is directed towards contemplation: the Northern mountains occupy a dominant position in the decorative context, making the viewer’s eyes stray along the mountainside and in the subtle beauty of the roses.
Lê Phổ. Meditation. Sold for 271.560 EUR.
Two other works by Lê Phổ (1907 – 2001) that achieved high prices at the auction were Two sisters (lot 16) and The maiden by flower (lot 18), circa 1977. EUR 127,400 and EUR 65,000 for each painting. The above three works are a summary of the changes in the artist’s style over the years.
Lê Phổ. Two sisters. Sold for 127.400 EUR.
Welcome Tết (lot 16) was composed by Lương Xuân Nhị, an important figure in 20th century Vietnamese Art History. The artist showed in his work a delicate and novel combination between themes of composition with Vietnamese and Western techniques, testifying to the artist’s study at the Indochina Fine Arts College and the influence of what was subsequently received.
Lương Xuân Nhị. Welcome Tết. Sold for 104.000 EUR.
Known for his impressionist scenes and realistic social images, thanks to the use of soft colors and delicate manner found only in his works, the artist had achieved great success in bringing depth to the composition while preserving the traditional charm. The work, which has fetched a price of 104,000 EUR, depicts an important traditional event: the Lunar New Year. On this occasion, peach blossoms that symbolize happiness and health bloom all over the North of the country.
The Nude (lot 5) is a testament to Sanyu’s style of painting on paper, his favorite medium. Trained in calligraphy from an early age, he freely created art through grace and simplicity in every line. Sold for EUR 27,300, through simplicity in form and figure, the painting fuses the compositional features of the Chinese modern art master.
Sanyu. Nude. Sold for 27.300 EUR.
Since the early 2000s, a number of international retrospective movements and art markets have finally given their place to works by Sanyu, which regularly appear on Aguttes, the leading auction house for the artist’s works.
Asian Arts: Việt Nam, China, Japan–Top 3:
- Lot 37 – China – Ming Dynasty, century 15 – 16, statue of Manjushri Bodhisattva – 54.600 EUR
- Lot 212 – China, In the middle of 17th century – A pair of vases – 37.700 EUR
- Lot 26 – Japan – 1868- 1912, statue of Amida Buddha, 16.900 EUR
« The results of this auction once again confirm the stability of the Chinese market with high-quality works as well as the return of customers’ interest in the Japanese market. The Vietnamese market continues to be a dynamic market with the arrival of many new auction buyers. »—Clémentine Guyot, Head of Asian Art Department
This auction dignifies the diversity of Asian cultures, honoring the Far East through beautiful Japanese and Chinese furniture, and honoring Southeast Asia with traditional artworks of Burma, Timor and Vietnam.
Statue of Manjushri Bodhisattva. Sold for 54.600 EUR.
A large brown patina statue (lot 37) depicting Manjushri Bodhisattva meditating sparked a « battle » until it reached a price of 54,600 EUR. The Bodhisattva sits on a two-tiered lotus pedestal, holds the Vitarka seal in hands, wears many precious jewels, the face is serene, and the head is with a crown surrounded by flowers, the bun is with a jewel.
A pair of vases. Sold for 37.700 EUR.
Art lovers have noticed a pair of vases (lot 212) dating from the Conversion period. This pair of blue and white porcelain vases has been sold for 37,700 EUR.
A gilded lacquered wood sculpture of Amida Buddha. Sold for 16.900 EUR.
A great auction price for this large gilded lacquered wood sculpture (lot 26)! Amitabha Buddha statue has reached a price of 16,900 EUR. Round face, half-closed eyes, small mouth showing a benevolent expression. This figure is often associated with Amitabha Buddha in traditional Japanese Buddhism. This posture of Amitabha Buddha is the posture when he comes to receive believers who come to be reborn in the Pure Land. The Buddha’s two-handed posture is also known as the “Seal of Welcome”.
NEXT ASIAN WEEKS
Asian painters, major works [38], May 31, 2023
From May 2 to June 1, Aguttes will host the second Asia Weeks of 2023.
As the only auction house in the world specializing in the market for artists with parallel Asian and European education at the beginning of the 20th century, Aguttes once again contributes to the honor of artists who studied at the Indochina Fine Arts College in Hanoi. The 38th auction of Asian painters, major works honoring the first classes of the school was led by Inguimberty, Jonchère, Alix Aymé, under the direction of Victor Tardieu such as Lê Phổ or Vũ Cao Đàm.
Aguttes, first auction house in Europe on the market of 20th century Asian painters
The Asian Painters department headed by expert Charlotte Aguttes-Reynier has been working for the past ten years to bring back to light the little-known Asian artists of the 20th century. Aguttes has thus presented several dozen paintings by Lê Phổ, Mai Trung Thứ or Vũ Cao Đàm, and regularly obtains new world records. These efforts have enabled the auction house to take the leading position in Europe in the market for Asian painters, to the satisfaction of buyers from around the world.
Among the signatures sought after by Asian collectors, and which Aguttes defends with passion, let us quote among others Lê Phổ, Nam Sơn, Alix Aymé, Lê Thy, Vũ Cao Đàm, Mai Trung Thứ, Inguimberty, Nguyễn Phan Chánh, Nguyễn Tiến Chung, Trần Phúc Duyên, Lê Thị Lựu… Raden Saleh… And also Sanyu, Lin Fengmian, Pan Yuliang… but also all the artists coming from the schools of Fine Arts of these regions of Asia. Sales are organized on a quarterly basis at carefully chosen dates, in connection with the market news on the most important international markets.
ABOUT AGUTTES
Remaining independent, without any external shareholder, Aguttes has become a major player in the art market over the years. With a record year of 86.5 million euros in sales in 2022, it confirms its position as European leader. This growth is based on the fundamental values of transparency in intermediation, discretion, rigor and boldness. Founded in Clermont-Ferrand in 1974 by Claude Aguttes, and still a family business with three active children within the company, the company is today composed of a team of 60 people, which is its primary quality. The in-house experts in 14 specialized departments enable the valuation and sale of large collections, paintings, objects, jewelry and exceptional automobiles. With an international auction room located in the west of Paris and representative offices in Lyon, Aix-en-Provence, Brussels and Geneva, the company distinguishes itself by its personalized service and its reactivity. With its strong communication skills and 62% international buyers, the firm regularly achieves world records. Aware of the trust placed in it by its sellers, it remains at their service above all.
Source: Aguttes
