Four-day Sotheby’s sale tops US$35m

Sotheby’s finished up a four-day sale in Hong Kong yesterday (1 April), with the final session bringing the overall tally to a record-breaking US$35 million.

Following on from the success of the three-day private own sale dubbed ‘Tran-scend-ent’ which brought in close to US$30m, the final day of the auction added an extra HK$39.5m (US$5m) to the total.

At the centre of yesterday’s sale were 25 limited edition cases of Mouton Rothschild which made HK$7.1m (US$904,261) combined and a 50 lot collection of rare Kweichow Moutai – the largest ever offered by Sotheby’s – added HK$9m (US$1.1m).

The sale’s top lot in fact were 12 half-bottles of the limited edition Hong Kong Reunification with China Memorial Moutai 1997, which realised HK$806,000 (US$102,757).

Sotheby’s senior specialist, Paul Wong, said: “The 50-lot collection of Kweichow Moutai, our largest-ever offering, saw a spectacular sell-through rate of 100%, as the most valuable spirit in the world gains popularity across Asia. The collection was led by The Hong Kong Reunification with China Memorial Moutai 1997, and we were thrilled to see this limited-edition set achieve a great price – aptly in the city of Hong Kong.”

The money raised through the sale of the Mouton Rothschild will go towards renovation work at the Palace of Versailles. Another 50 cases will be sold at future sales in New York and London.

Philippe Sereys de Rothschild, chairman and CEO of Baron Philippe de Rothschild, said: “I am very happy with the results achieved in Hong Kong for 25 of the limited-edition Versailles Celebration Cases, all of which were sold, raising over HK$7 million / US$900,000. We are delighted that all the proceeds of this sale will go towards the restoration of a landmark of the world’s cultural heritage, and are looking forward to welcoming all the successful bidders to celebrate with us at the Palace of Versailles on 21 September, where we will be serving four ex-cellar vintages of Château Mouton Rothschild, including the historic 1945. We are looking forward to Parts II and III of this auction, in London on 17 April and in New York on 4 May.”

Meanwhile, commenting on the sale as a whole, Jamie Ritchie, worldwide head of Sotheby’s Wine, said: “We are excited to have had such a monumental, $35 million, record-breaking weekend, which included presenting the first of this unique series of the Château Mouton Rothschild Versaillles Celebration Cases.

“Numerous bidders from all around the world showed their love of Mouton and their desire to enjoy the legendary Mouton 1945 that will be served at the celebratory dinner, while supporting restoration at Château de Versailles. Fifty lucky people have booked their places at this special dinner and will be joined by the buyers of the remaining 50 cases to be offered for auction in London and New York”