Top 10 Chinese art works sold at auctions for 2013

1. A large pair of zitan compound cabinets set the auction record for Chinese antique furniture with a price of 93.15 million yuan ($15 million) at the Poly International Auction on June 4.

2. Lingnan painting school representative Li Xiongcai's ink painting, Evergreen, went for 89.6 million yuan ($14.6 million) at the Rongbao Auction of Beijing on March 30.

3. Wu Zuoren's museum-quality oil painting Yellow Blooms on the Battlefield Smell Sweeter fetched 80.5 million yuan ($13.1 million) at the China Guardian Auction on May 10.

4. A colored ink painting titled Song Ya Bie Ye, by Ming scholar and painter Tang Yin (Tang Bohu), was acquired for 71.3 million yuan ($11.6 million), a record for the artist, at the Poly International Auction on June 3.

5. Zhang Daqian's gongbi (detailed strokes) and shinu (court beauties) painting, Lady with a Red Whisk (1944) fetched 71.3 million yuan ($11.6 million) at the China Guardian Auction on May 10. Zhang reproduced in the rarely-seen work the sophisticated style of Tang Dynasty.

6. A white jade seal that was tailor made to celebrate Qing Emperor Qianlong's 80th birthday was sold for 66.7 million yuan ($10.9 million) at the China Guardian Auction on May 12. The seal features a crossing-double dragon-shaped knob and the incised characters of "zi qiang bu xi" (which literally means making ceaseless efforts to improve oneself), and once belonged to French industrialist and collector Emile Guimet.

7. Lotus, a set of four large-scale ink paintings that Zhang Daqian created in 1947, went for HK$ 80.51 million ($10.4 million) at Christie's in Hong Kong on May 28. The works exemplify the master's prowess of the xieyi style and splash ink techniques.

8. Snowy Mountains, a set of eight mountain-and-water paintings by modern painter Cui Ruzhuo, were sold for HK$ 77.15 million ($9.9 million) at Christie's in Hong Kong on May 28.

9. A ruby falangcai (enameled cloisonne) bowl with lotus patterns and a blue "yuzhi" mark from Qing Emperor Kangxi reign fetched HK$74.04 million ($9.5 million) at Sotheby's in Hong Kong on April 8. The bowl was once part of a collection from Hong Kong connoisseur Alice Cheng and was sold to Hong Kong ceramic dealer William Chak.

10. A colored ink painting Daoist Goddess Playing Panpipe was sold HK$74.04 million ($9.5 million) at a special sale of the Mei Yun Tang Collection of Zhang Daqian's works, by Sotheby's in Hong Kong on May 27. The collection was assembled by Mr. and Mrs. Kao Ling-mei, who befriended Zhang in the 1930s and became his ardent supporters.

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1. A large pair of zitan compound cabinets set the auction record for Chinese antique furniture with a price of 93.15 million yuan ($15 million) at the Poly International Auction on June 4.

10 Days Yunnan Birding Tour

Summary Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangrila

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