It is no surprise to regular auctiongoers that Asian arts are often at most auctions’ “top ten” lists, but the performance of an unassuming-looking set of six small Oriental bowls that sold at James D. Julia’s early on in the first session of the August 23′6 auction had to be a surprise to many.

Underestimated at $300/500, the Nineteenth⁔wentieth Century bowls were attractive to be sure, but they were outshone in the sale catalog by a crystal carving of tribute to Empress Dowager Cixi ($60/90,000) and an important Qing dynasty carved rhinoceros horn Tibetan Buddhist tower ($15/20,000).

Just as cream rises, however, these bowls soared in price, becoming the top lot of the auction when they fetched $373,750.

Close in price was the Harbottle Dorr Collection lot of annotated Massachusetts newspapers dating from 1772 to 1776 that brought $345,000 in the sale’s third session.

A complete report on this auction will appear in next week’s Antiques and The Arts Weekly . ⁁VV