Bonhams’ had just one big-ticket item in the catalogue for its special Asian art auction last week – a gorgeous painting of birds by Xu Beihong, the celebrated painter of horses and birds who died in 1953.
Four potential buyers or their agents had flown into Sydney from China to attend the Asia-oriented sale, according to Bonhams Asian art specialist Yvett Klein, who added that this is typical for the auctioneer’s Asian sales in this country.
