A pair of exquisite fish jars from the Ming Dynasty, dating back to the 16th century, has been auctioned for an impressive £9.6 million ($12.5 million), far exceeding their initial estimate of £1 million ($1.3 million).
These porcelain jars, commissioned for the Jiajing Emperor, ignited a fierce 20-minute bidding war among over ten collectors, ultimately selling to a private collector in Asia, as reported by Sotheby’s on Wednesday. This auction result makes it the highest-priced Chinese artwork sold globally this year.
One of the jars' key attractions was their status as the first complete pair with covers to be offered at auction. Currently, only one other known covered pair exists, housed at the Musée Guimet in Paris. The jars belonged to a German family collection for more than a century before being sold.
Notably, apart from the aforementioned pair, only three other individual jars with their original covers are known to be privately owned. Henry Howard-Sneyd, Sotheby’s chairman for Asian Art, highlighted the collectors' immediate and enthusiastic response upon the catalog's release, emphasizing the rarity of this pair and their unique auction presence after being hidden for so long.
The jars, crafted during the reign of the Jiajing Emperor (1522-1566), represent a significant advancement in porcelain artistry, showcasing golden carp amidst lush lotus-filled ponds. Sotheby’s described their survival as "nothing short of miraculous," noting that they were safeguarded alongside the family’s art collection during World War II, prior to the destruction of their home in Wiesbaden.
A photograph from a 1926 German art magazine shows the jars displayed in the family’s home, further documenting their historical significance. The auction itself was part of a "Chinese Art" sale that totaled $19.6 million, surpassing its high estimate of $9.3 million, with more than 55 percent of the lots exceeding their anticipated values.
Zainab Y.
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