Updated Info on Ivory Regulations

The PBS Antiques Roadshow has recently posted a useful article that summaries the current laws pertaining to sale of ivory. Access it here

Top Chinese Painters in 2016

Artprice market report has just published a listing of the top Chinese painting sales for 2016.
Chinese Painting Sales - 2016
The article notes -

The new records in modern and contemporary art confirm the trend which began recently, notably with the new record reached by ZHANG Daqian (1899-1983), the Chinese Picasso… The sale of Zhang Daqian’s works generated more than $300 million in 2016, although the market has quietened down compared to 2014 when his works raised more than $500m in one year.

Selling Your Parents' Possessions is Harder than You Think

I've been getting a lot of queries recently from people who need to dispose of family possessions. Sadly, much of what I am asked to evaluate have only minimal decorative value. That is because lifestyles of younger people have changed and they are simply not so interested in antiques, Western or Asian, unless the pieces are really, really special. I am happy to look at things, for my minimun fee, and advise on where things can be sold. But it is important for people who contact me to understand they need to have realistic expectations and in most cases, sales will not be able to pay for care of elderly loved ones.

Much has been written on this issue lately, including this interesting, basic article, Sorry, Nobody Wants Your Parents' Stuff

PERSONAL PROPERTY APPRAISERS AND YOU

The Appraisal Foundation has produced a short (2-page) brochure (download it here: PERSONAL PROPERTY APPRAISERS AND YOU), that very succinctly and clearly offers the general public and others who recommend appraisers to individuals (librarians, museum curators, bank trust officers, attorneys, insurance companies, etc.) advice on what qualifications appraisers must have and how to find appropriate specialist appraisers.

Concise Lowdown on US Ivory Sales Restrictions

I just came across a good, short, and clear article, "Antique Dealers Come Face-to-Face With Ivory Ban" By Kristin Hugo in National Geographic online (July 8, 2016) that explains the difficulties for the antique trade the new ban on sale of endangered species material has caused.

It explains
The new ban restricts interstate sales of ivory items to two narrow categories: antique ivory that’s proven to be more than a century old and items that contain only a little ivory, such as a violin bow with an ivory tip.

 and that
increasing stigma against ivory ownership and tighter regulations at the state and federal levels have been encouraging dealers to gradually get out of the business.

it also points out that
It remains legal to sell antique ivory within states, other than in California, New York, New Jersey, or Hawaii, which have passed state bans on the ivory trade. Other states have legislation pending. That means a market still exists for some ivory sellers. 

Lastly, the article offers some guidance on what to do with ivory items you are unable to sell:
Ivory owners who want to get rid of legally acquired ivory can donate it to the Fish and Wildlife Service’s national wildlife repository, in Colorado, if they’re willing to pay the shipping costs. Or they can simply keep it in their own private collections, which Lang said is a popular option for antique dealers wanting to remove ivory from their stores.

Owners may also offer to donate their ivory to a museum. Art, culture, and science museums in particular might be interested in legally acquired, historically significant ivory, according to Sheila Hoffman, the chair of the American Alliance of Museums’ ethics subcommittee.

Advice on Selecting a Qualified Appraiser

Many thousands of persons hold themselves out to the public as appraisers but few are actually properly trained to do the job. The IRS and knowledgable insurance companies, bank asset managers, and attorneys have been requiring all appraisers they hire to adhere to USPAP as well as Appraisal Foundation standards when selecting appraisers. Members of the general public should as well.

For a good discussion of what it takes to be a qualified appraiser, see this article PERSONAL PROPERTY APPRAISER QUALIFICATION CRITERIA

Although the new standards described in the article above will not go into effect until January 1, 2018, you should be mindful of them now. You can download the Appraisal Foundation brouchure on these new criteria HERE

TOP CHINESE AUCTION HOUSES 2016

The Chinese art market is dominated by sales at auction houses within Mainland China, in Hong Kong, or in Taiwan. There are so many auction houses these days that it is hard for the public to know which ones are the larger and more important ones. I have complied the list below, based on data culled from several sources include Artnet, Artprice, Artron, and Blouin. Note that this list OMITS the big three Western auction houses that have sales in China: Christie's (HK & Shanghai), Sotheby's (HK & Beijing), and Bonhams (HK).

Beijing ChengXuan Auctions Co., Ltd.
北京诚轩拍卖有限公司
Beijing

Beijing Council International Auction Co.,
Ltd. 北京匡时国际拍卖有限公司
Beijing

Beijing Huachen Auctions Co., Ltd.
北京华辰拍卖有限公司
Beijing

China Guardian Auctions Co., Ltd.
中国嘉德国际拍卖有限公司
Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo,
New York, Vancouver

Duo Yun Xuan Auctions Co., Ltd.
朵雲軒拍賣會
Shanghai

Beijing Hanhai Auction Co., Ltd.
北京翰海拍賣
Beijing

Hosane Auction Co. Ltd.
Shanghai

Poly Auction (Hong Kong)
香港保利
Hong Kong

Poly International Auction Co., Ltd.
北京保利
Beijing

Ravenel International Art Group
羅芙奧藝術集團
Taipei, Taiwan; Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai, China

Rong Bao Zhai
榮寶齋
Jinan

Rong Bao Zhai (Shanghai) Auction Co., Ltd.
榮寶齋
Shanghai

Sungari International Auction
中貿聖佳國際拍賣
Beijing

United Asian Auctioneers
Hong Kong

XiLing YinShe Auction Co. Ltd.
西冷印社拍賣
Hangzhou, Beijing

Zhong Cheng Auction Co., Ltd.
中誠國際拍賣
Taipei