Asian Art & Antiques

While Asia has a somewhat unified history, religion, philosophy, and culture, each country indisputably has its own art market along with a multitude of defining characteristics and individual customs and traditions that directly influence those markets. According to Noah Kupferman, Managing Director at Shapiro Auctions, there are “several collecting categories within Asian art that have certainly experienced torrid growth in terms of prices realized.” Those include Chinese ceramics, Chinese furniture, Himalayan sculpture, and Contemporary Indian and Southeast Asian paintings, he notes.

The Chinese Art Market

The art and antiques auction market in China has been one of the strongest growing worldwide since it emerged into the global art scene in the mid-2000s. The popularity of Chinese art and artifacts, including ceramics, bronze pieces, contemporary paintings, and snuff bottles, has driven the prices up at Asian art auctions dramatically.

The Japanese Art Market

Due to the erosion of the yen, Japanese artworks and antiques are also highly valued at auction today, especially armor, swords, and ceramics. While Japanese art encompasses a wide variety of different styles and eras, in general, the most common classical features and themes include Buddhism, shapes and decor elements based on nature, and spiritual imagery, while contemporary Japanese art often explores themes such as self-identity and finding fulfillment in a modern world.

Korean and Southeast Asian Art

Following the Asian financial crises of 1997, Korea became more open to the global marketplace and public interest in contemporary Korean art was piqued. Elsewhere, the Southeast Asian collector base also continues to grow, with contemporary Southeast Asian art quickly becoming sought after at auctions throughout the world.

Learn more from the Invaluable Guide to Buying Asian Art.