European and Asian Furniture and Decorative Arts were sold at Skinner this past weekend, Saturday and Sunday, January 24 and 25, with impressive results posted on both days.

The top lot of the record-breaking $2.3 million sale was a dark green jade mountain carved with pavilions, granaries, figures, water buffalo and foliage. The Ch’ien Lung period piece brought $182,000 against an estimate of $20/30,000 from a London dealer bidding in the room. The piece was consigned by a private Connecticut collector who traded in China and Japan in the 1930s.

A colorful pair of Tou Tsai covered jars also from the Ch’ien Lung period and from the same consignor, estimated at $4/6,000, fetched $49,350. A Minton majolica fountain in brilliant blues, greens and yellow brought $36,425 making it the top piece among the European lots in the sale.

Ceramics, particularly Wedgwood, brought strong money, and English silver was enormously successful.

A complete review of the sale will appear in a future issue.