Xu Bing

Book from the Sky

Found at Christies, Hong Kong
21st Century Art Day Sale, Lot 179
2. Dec - 2. Dec 2021
Estimate: 200.000 - 300.000 HKD
Price realised: 875.000 HKD
XU BING (B.1955)
Book from the Sky
signed ‘Xu Bing’ and signed in Chinese (on the first page of the first book); numbered ‘78/100’ and inscribed respectively (first page of each book)
woodblock print in a set 4 books, with original box
each book: 45.5 x 40 cm. (17 7⁄8 x 15 3⁄4 in.) (4)
box: 49 x 33.6 x 9.5 cm. (19 1⁄4 x 13 1⁄4 x 3 3⁄4 in.)
Executed in 1991
edition 78⁄100

Upper estimate price exceeded by more than 100%

This artwork by Xu Bing achieved an unexpectedly high price at Christies in Hong Kong in December 2021. In the 21st Century Art Day Sale auction, the work Book from the Sky sold for HKD 875,000.00 (€ 99,112.03) - well above the upper estimate of HKD 300,000.00. Admittedly, works by Xu Bing have also been auctioned for a multiple of this price - according to our records, the highest result so far was achieved by the work The Living Word in April 2008 with an auction result of HKD 7,607,500.00 (€ 626,954.17).

Oberer Schätzpreis um mehr als 100% übertroffen

Dieses Kunstwerk von Xu Bing erzielte im Dezember 2021 bei Christies in Hong Kong einen unerwartet hohen Preis. In der Auktion 21st Century Art Day Sale wurde die Arbeit Book from the Sky für HKD 875.000,00 (€ 99.112,03) versteigert – und damit weit über dem oberen Schätzpreis von HKD 300.000,00. Freilich wurden Arbeiten von Xu Bing auch schon für ein Vielfaches dieses Preises versteigert – das bisher höchste Ergebnis erzielte nach unseren Aufzeichnungen die Arbeit The Living Word im April 2008 mit einem Auktionsergebnis von HKD 7.607.500,00 (€ 626.954,17).

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