3 min read · 19 Sep 2024
Kanagawa-oki nami-ura (Under the Wave off Kanagawa), by Katsushika Hokusai sold for $889,500. Image courtesy of Bonhams
A work by Katsushika Hokusai was the headline sale at Bonhams 'A Private Collection of Japanese Prints and Watercolors' auction on September 18 in New York.
The star lot was: Katsushika Hokusai, Kanagawa-oki nami-ura (Under the Wave off Kanagawa), (1830), which sold for $889,500, 27% above its $700,000 low estimate.
The outperformer sold for 138% above its low estimate. Kitagawa Utamaro, Tamaya no uchi Hanamurasaki, Sekiya, Teriya (Hanamurasaki of the Tamaya, [ kamuro ] Seiya, Teriya) (1790), sold for $191,000 ($80,000 low estimate).
Breakdown of results against auction house estimates that are disclosed
No sales had a guarantee.
4 works were bought-in, including: Kawase Hasui, *Matsuyamajō, Tonashimon (Tonashimon gate, Matsuyama Castle) * (1953), estimated at $45,000 (low) to $55,000 (high).
0 works were withdrawn
All results include the fees and premiums added to the price of a work of art when the auctioneer's hammer falls. 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Withdrawn: This happens when a seller decides, for whatever reason, to withdraw a work before the bidding begins.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.