Freeman’s Asian Arts department brings the finest Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, and Southeast Asian ceramics, jades, lacquer, sculpture, furniture, and works of art the market has to offer. With particular strengths and expertise in material from the 19th century and earlier—as well as important 20th-century artists—Freeman’s Asian Arts specialists oversee two auctions annually featuring works from a range of centuries and dynasties.
Our specialists have a deep knowledge of both the history of Asian art and craft, as well as the present and future of market trends. Bringing this expertise to bear on individual work as well as carefully assembled collections, the Asian Arts department consistently achieves impressive results—including the house record, held until February 2021, of $3,725,000 for an important Imperial white jade seal.
Freeman’s April 2021 Asian Arts auction achieved over $3.7M total, led by a rare red-underglaze “Dragons and Waves” vase, an auction highlight that realized an impressive $2.3M after a competitive bidding war between international buyers. With the great market demand for provenanced heirlooms, many of our recent successes have been with fresh-to-market pieces and collections handed down generationally. These include works from the collection of Dr. Harold H. Louckes, led by a rare blue and white porcelain plaque painted by the 20th-century artist Wang Bu; the jade collection of Dr. Frederic and Mrs. Madeleine Zeman; and a Chinese carved spinach jade luduan censer and cover with gilt metal stand from a private collection.
10/11/2022
Chinese calligraphy painting, and seals on offer at Freeman’s this month
10/07/2022
Works from the Tang dynasty to the contemporary moment, on offer this fall
10/03/2022
A closer look at the coveted material—and why its market value continues to soar
09/30/2022
How lacquers have delighted Eastern and Western audiences for centuries
03/18/2022
Classic Ming Dynasty chairs that influenced later Chippendale forms