Christie's SANYU: Where the Line Begins Auction Totals $874,900

A work by Sanyu was the headline sale at Christie's 'SANYU: Where the Line Begins' auction on September 22-October 14 in Hong Kong.

• The sale totaled $874,900 (HKD6.87m), falling short of its pre-sale low estimate.

Snapshot of the sale

• 49 works sold totaling $874,900.
• Estimates totaled: $1.21m (low) and $1.81m (high), excluding premiums.
• The sell-through rate was 56% of the original 88 lots announced.

The star lot was: Sanyu, Nudes Resting on Their Arms (1920), which sold for $48,900, 139% above its $20,400 low estimate. It has been traded once in the past.

The outperformer sold for 139% above its low estimate. Sanyu, Nudes Resting on Their Arms (1920), sold for $48,900 ($20,400 low estimate). It has been traded once in the past.

• 10 works, or 20%, sold above their high estimate.
• 18 works, or 37%, sold within their low and high estimate.
• 21 works, or 43%, sold below their low estimate.
• 0 sold with undisclosed estimates.

Guaranteed sales

No sales had a guarantee.

Works that did not sell

39 works were bought-in, including: Sanyu, Reclining Nude Viewed from Behind (1920), estimated at $20,400 (low) to $31,900 (high). It has been traded once in the past.

Withdrawn before the sale

0 works were withdrawn

Terms and definitions

All results include the fees and premiums added to the price of a work of art when the auctioneer's hammer falls. Estimates, sale prices and totals are converted into US dollars. Sale prices are compared to the auction house’s low estimate, which do not include premiums.

Guarantees: Sometimes an auction house guarantees to pay a seller for a work, regardless of whether the bidding reaches the reserve price, a figure that is typically confidential.

Bought-in: If there are no bids for a work, or if bidding falls short of the reserve price, the lot is unsold or “bought-in”.

Withdrawn: This happens when a seller decides, for whatever reason, to withdraw a work before the bidding begins.

Premiums: Typically a sliding-scale of charges paid in addition to the hammer price by the buyer, plus any other fees.