Wednesday 25th November 2015

Hello Everyone

Today I read with interest an article on ‘Artnet’ concerning the recent sale of a nude painting by the Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani which I thought I would share with you.  It is the latest in a series of of record-breaking purchases made by Chinese art collectors that have amazed and stupefied the art world in equal measure.

‘THE SILK ROAD’ which  extended some 6,400 miles, derived its name from the lucrative trade in Chinese silk carried out along its length, beginning during the Han Dynasty (207 BCE – 220 CE).   Today’s Silk Road merchants are the Chinese billionaires who will stop at nothing to own a ‘priceless’ Picasso or a precious gem stone.

Only recently a Chinese collector stunned the world after snapping up a nude painting for £113 million.  Liu Yiqian, 52, purchased the ‘Nu Couché  by Italian Amedeo Modigliani after a protracted bidding war at Christie’s auction in New York. It was the latest in a series of record-breaking purchases made by the Chinese financier, Liu Yiqian, a former taxi driver who has gained a reputation for breaking records in his pursuit of priceless artworks. Last year, he splashed out £21 million on a 500-year-old Ming Dynasty cup just so he could drink tea from it and see how it felt.

On Wednesday, a Hong Kong billionaire, Joseph Lau spent a record $48.4m at  Sotheby’s buying an 12.03-carat diamond dubbed “Blue Moon” for his seven-year-old daughter Josephine.  David Bennett, the head of Sotheby’s international jewellery division, said the “Blue Moon” made the gemstone the most expensive diamond, regardless of colour, and the most expensive jewel ever sold at auction.

We look forward to seeing you in the gallery.

Best Wishes

Claire Moore

Gallery Manager

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