The Christie's Spring 2009 sale of Asian art and rare wines in Hong Kong has exceeded expectations, as sales peaked at top notch prices.

The sale saw 20th Century Chinese artist Sanyu's work Cats and Birds being sold for a total of US$5,418,270 ($7.87 million) setting a new world auction record for the artist.

Eric Chang, Christie’s International Director and Head of Chinese 20th Century Art & Asian Contemporary Art, said:

"The excitement in the packed saleroom was palatable, often building to applause, and we saw great activity not only from clients in the room, but also on the telephones, resulting in a truly international set of buyers and underbidders.  

We are particularly pleased with the new world auction record for Sanyu with Cat and Birds which sold for HK$42.1 million, far exceeding the previous record for the artist that Christie’s Hong Kong set in 2006." 

Belgian artist Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur's work Ni Pollok, famous for his paintings of Balinese culture, sold to a European private collector for US$465,894.

While works by famous Chineses artsist Zao Wou-Ki sold for the benefit of the Harvard Art Museum Acquisition Fund. The sale of two of his works, Nous Deux and Vent et Poussiere amounted to a grand sum of HK$45 million ($8.4 million).

The finest and rarest wine sales were also a cause for excitment as total sums reached a high of HK$28,046,400.

David Elswood, International Head of Wine for Christie's said: "We are delighted with the encouraging results of this auction, proving the continuing strength and importance of Hong Kong as the undisputed fine wine hub in Asia.

» Rare items fetch high prices at Christie's HK sale