An old photos auction fetches record-breaking prices at Beijing
On May 10th, Huachen 2013 spring auction dedicated to photography ended in Beijing. The total volume reached 10,662, 000 RMB (Dollars 1 750 000) with a 70.4% turnover ratio.
Huachen 2013 spring auction dedicated to photography bids more than 300 pieces of photographs including historical materials of the Republic of China, negative film, vintage photos of early days after foundation of modern China, and photo works of Chinese contemporary artists. The auction house offered special photography sections for “photographic masterpieces by famous writers of the 19th century”, “photographic art color” “red classic” and “ancient rare photography books published by Kelly & Walsh Co.” .
A photo of Mao Zedong relaxing in a wicker chair against the scenic backdrop of Lushan Mountain has fetched 391,000 RMB (Dollars 40 000) , 10 times the pre-sale estimate. The photo, titled “Chairman Mao, the Brightest Sun in the Heart of the People ” was taken in1961 by “Li Jin”, a pen name used by his wife Jiang Qing for photos she took during the “cultural revolution” (1966-76). A photo named “The Japanese army photo album- of the Sino-Japanese naval battle of 1894” bid 1090,000RMB (dollars 178000), was the lot that reached the highest price during the auction.
Cheng Xiao, Yang Qiong, Chen Xi/ CPS and Floris de Bonneville
