Xu Bing

An Introduction to Square Word Calligraphy

Found at Christies, Hong Kong
Asian Contemporary Art (Day Sale), Lot 636
25. May - 25. May 2014
Estimate: 40.000 - 60.000 HKD
Price realised: 325.000 HKD
XU BING (Chinese, B. 1955)
An Introduction to Square Word Calligraphy
signed 'Xu Bing' in Pinyin (on cover of each book); signed 'Xu Bing' in Pinyin (inside cover page of accordion-bound book)
wooden box; woodblock prints in accordion-bound book; book of practice
box: 26 x 42 x 5 cm. (10 1/4 x 16 1/2 x 2 in.)
accordion-bound book: 39.5 x 23.2 x 2.5 cm. (15 1/2 x 9 1/8 x 1 in.)
practice book: 39.3 x 23.5 cm. (15 1/2 x 9 1/4 in.)

Artwork auctioned at five times the upper estimate price

The work An Introduction to Square Word Calligraphy by Xu Bing was worth HKD 325,000.00 (€ 30,736.80) to a buyer in May 2014. This price was achieved in the auction Asian Contemporary Art (Day Sale) at Christies in Hong Kong and exceeded the previously set upper estimate of HKD 60,000.00 many times over. Of course, this price has nothing to do with the top prices that other works by Xu Bing achieve. The highest price we have observed so far was reached by the work The Living Word in April 2008 with an auction result of HKD 7,607,500.00 (€ 626,954.17).

Kunstwerk zum Fünffachen des oberen Schätzpreises versteigert

Die Arbeit An Introduction to Square Word Calligraphy von Xu Bing war einem Käufer im Mai 2014 HKD 325.000,00 (€ 30.736,80) wert. Dieser Preise wurde in der Auktion Asian Contemporary Art (Day Sale) bei Christies in Hong Kong erzielt und übertraf den zuvor angesetzten oberen Schätzpreis von HKD 60.000,00 um ein Vielfaches. Dieser Preis hat freilich nichts mit den Spitzenpreisen zu tun, die andere Arbeiten von Xu Bing erzielen. Den höchsten von uns bisher beobachteten Preis erreichte die Arbeit The Living Word im April 2008 mit einem Auktionsergebnis von HKD 7.607.500,00 (€ 626.954,17).

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