Imperial Chinese table screen sells for $1.9m in French auction

A disassembled imperial Chinese table screen has set an auction house record after selling as part of a French auction, which was held on October 28 in Chartres.

Chinese table screen auction record
The tablescreen is thought to have originated from the Chinese imperial court



The item, which featured a poem by the Qianlong emperor (1711-1799) on the back, sold for €1.2m ($1.9m) to a Taiwanese couple, who made the decision to travel all the way to France to place their bids and collect the piece. The table screen saw heated bids, soaring past the €50,000-80,000 estimate to achieve a 161.2% increase.

Serving primarily as a decorative item, the table screen is thought to have also been used for meditation. It is thought to originate from the "heart of imperial China", likely the imperial court itself, which makes it extremely sought after.

Measuring 26 by 18cm, the piece features a white jade disc at its centre and originates from the 18th century. It has been held in the private collection of the current owner - a local man - since 1860 and was only sold as he "thought it could be worth something".

The sale is a further example of rare Chinese furniture returning to its homeland at the hands of the country's wealthy investors. The Chinese art market grew by 64% in 2011, seeing an increase in demand that has caused values for the top items to rise across the world.

Sign up to Paul Fraser Collectibles' free weekly newsletter to discover the latest trends in the collectibles industry and more of the latest news and investment advice.

 

Featured products

Elvis Presley Authentic Strand of Hair
Elvis Presley Authentic Strand of Hair
Sale price£399
In stock
Fidel Castro signed certificateFidel Castro Signed Certificate
Fidel Castro signed certificate
Sale price£2,995
In stock
King Henry VIII Autographed DocumentKing Henry VIII Autographed Document
King Henry VIII Autographed Document
Sale price£55,000
In stock