China Guardian
Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong,
China; four other locations worldwide
cguardian.com
Focus: Chinese art and antiques, rare books, wine, jewelry
The most prestigious auction house on the Chinese mainland, China Guardian was cofounded in 1993 by Wang Yannan, daughter of Zhao Ziyang, the former premier of the PRC. For the next decade-plus, China Guardian led the Chinese art auction market, until state-owned Beijing Poly International Auction emerged in the mid-2000s. With a successful sale in Hong Kong in October 2012—featuring Album of Mountains and Rivers, by Qi Baishi, which sold for nearly $6 million—China Guardian became the first mainland auction house to set up an operation abroad.
Wang Yannan, president
What was the most successful auction of the past year?
We recently wrapped up our spring auctions for this year, which is the 20th anniversary of China Guardian. In the Chinese calligraphy and painting sale, Zhang Daqian’s masterpiece Lady Red Whisk was sold at RMB71.3 million after an epic bidding battle.
What was the most exciting or surprising lot?
In the Oil Painting Pioneers in the 20th Century sale at this year’s spring auctions, Wu Zuoren’s museum-worthy masterpiece The Yellow Blooms on the Battlefield Smell Sweeter was sold for a startling RMB80.5 million, which was a new artist’s record.
How has the auction house changed since its founding?
There are a lot of things going on in the art auction market in China, and as a key player, China Guardian is making dramatic changes too. In 2011, we set up a wholly owned subsidiary in Hong Kong and therefore became the first mainland auction house to operate in the special administrative region. We are excited to finally get a chance to offer precious Chinese artwork to a broader audience, to reach more collectors, dealers, and museums.
What are your plans for the next five years?
While as an established auction house we’ve achieved a lot in the last two decades, we are still trying new things. We are building our Guardian Art Center, which aside from normal auctions will also undertake other missions, such as art exhibitions, cultural dialogues, artwork restorations, even publishing and media. We are seeing ourselves as a comprehensive enterprise with an auctioning pivot.
What artist or market should collectors watch?
The Chinese art market is growing at an unbelievable pace, and it’s developing more specific categories. I think it’s more important for the collectors to enjoy the art, to treat art as a lifestyle; fondness should be the sole standard when collecting art.
What would you buy for your own collection if it came up at auction?
As an auctioneer, I can get my hands on these treasures every day, so category-wise, I don’t think I have a preference for any kind of art over others.
