: - A highly important China Trade painting by Sunqua depicting the
ship Samuel Russell at Whampoa Anchorage, topped yet
another blockbuster sale by Northeast Auctions this past weekend,
August 16-17. Just under 1,200 lots were offered in the two-day
sale with a gross of $3.7 million realized.
The painting, circa 1850, measured an impressive 30 by 40 inches
and retained the original black lacquer China Trade frame.
"Sunqua was one of the most accomplished painters on the China
Coast," stated the catalog, with this work being the "largest and
most dramatic of his China Trade ship portraits." Auctioneer Ron
Bourgeault called the Sunqua work "as fine as any marine painting
by a Westerner of this period," and further stated that it is
"considered to be one of the most important trade paintings of
the period."
Bidding on the rare painting opened on the floor at $75,000 and
took off with several in the room chasing the lot. In the end,
however, a private collector bidding by telephone claimed the
picture at $222,500.
Porcelain pieces also did quite well with several pieces of
orange Fitzhugh leading the way. The top lot was a covered soup
tureen decorated with spread-winged eagles that sold between
estimates at $54,625.
A complete review of the sale will appear in a future issue.
