[2026 Autumn Auction] Sotheby's Okada Museum of Art Sale Sets Auction Records for Kitagawa Utamaro, Katsushika Hokusai's "The Great Wave off Kanagawa," and Kichijo ware, Concluding with Total Sales of HK$860 Million.

6 Sep 2026, 10:40

Leading lot in the Okada Museum of Art Collection of Asian Art Treasures (Part II) – Southern Song Dynasty Jizhou Kiln Paper-cut Appliqué Phoenix Pattern Tenmoku Tea Bowl

"Treasures of Asian Art from the Okada Museum Collection" series

The two auctions achieved a total sales volume of HK$860 million.

Creating a total of 20 lots that sold for over ten million.

Asian Art Treasures from the Okada Museum of Art (Part Two)

The transaction rate reached 98%.

Nearly 80% of the lots sold for more than their high estimates.

Southern Song Dynasty Jizhou Kiln Paper-cut Phoenix Pattern Tianmu Tea Bowl

- Sets a new auction record for Jizhou ware -

A summary of total transaction data for both events:

Total turnover reached HK$863,070,680

The transaction rate reached 98.7%.

Creating a total of 20 lots that sold for over ten million.

Set three world auction records

It set three world auction records: the auction records for Kitagawa Utamaro, Katsushika Hokusai's "The Great Wave off Kanagawa", and the record for the Jizhou kiln.

Special Auction (Part Two) September 4, 2026:

Set a new auction record for Jizhou kiln

The top lot of the auction was a Southern Song Dynasty Jizhou kiln paper-cut phoenix-patterned temmoku tea bowl, which was fiercely bid on 57 times by collectors in person, by phone and online, and finally sold for HK$10,624,000, more than 13 times the high estimate (estimate: HK$400,000 - HK$800,000).

Southern Song Dynasty, Jizhou Kiln Paper-cut Phoenix Pattern Tenmoku Tea Bowl
Teacup, 15 cm

Cup stand 17.5 cm

Estimate: HKD 400,000 - 800,000

Transaction price: HK$10,624,000

This tea bowl boasts a clear and illustrious provenance, bearing witness to over four centuries of Japanese tea ceremony and collecting history. Its provenance, spanning from the Edo Shogunate's residence to important modern art museums, is nothing short of legendary. It is not only a precious Song Dynasty ceramic piece, but also a vibrant chronicle of East Asian tea ceremony and collecting.

Special Auction (Part 1) November 22, 2025:

Breaking the auction record for Kitagawa Utamaro (1754-1806).

"Snow in Fukagawa" was purchased by a Japanese private collector for HK$55,275,000, nearly seven times its high estimate, becoming the top lot of the sale (estimate: HK$6,000,000 - 8,000,000).

Kitagawa Utamaro Snow in Fukagawa
Edo period, early 19th century

198.8 x 341.1 cm

Estimate: HKD 6,000,000 - 8,000,000

Transaction price: HKD 55,275,000

Special Auction (Part 1) November 22, 2025:

Refreshing Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849)
Auction records for "The Great Wave off Kanagawa"

Breaking the auction record for Katsushika Hokusai's (1760-1849) "The Great Wave off Kanagawa": it was purchased by a Japanese private collector for HK$21,725,000, 2.7 times the high estimate (estimate: HK$5,000,000 - 8,000,000).

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) The Great Wave off Kanagawa
Edo period (19th century)

26.3 × 38.1 cm

Estimate: HKD 5,000,000 - 8,000,000

Transaction price: HK$21,725,000

Okada Museum of Art Collection

Asian Art Treasures (Part Two)

Transaction Highlights

Chinese artworks have achieved remarkable results:

A celadon ewer with carved peony scroll design from the Five Dynasties to Northern Song period from Yaozhou sold for HK$8,320,000, nearly 14 times its high estimate (estimate: HK$300,000 - HK$600,000) - with 37 bids.

A Northern Song Dynasty Ding ware white-glazed bowl with incised peony design and a divided lobed rim sold for HK$5,376,000, nearly seven times its high estimate (estimate: HK$400,000 - HK$800,000) - after 44 bids.

A Tang Dynasty brown-glazed dog, one of 20 pieces to exceed HK$10 million, sold for HK$5,248,000, more than 17 times its high estimate (estimate: HK$150,000 - HK$300,000) - after 44 bids.

A Northern Song Dynasty Ding ware white-glazed bowl with incised peony design sold for HK$4,736,000, nearly six times its high estimate (estimate: HK$400,000 - HK$800,000) - with 33 bids.

Five Dynasties to Northern Song Dynasty Yaozhou Celadon Ewer with Carved Peony Scroll Design
Height 19.5 cm

Estimate: HKD 300,000 – 600,000

Transaction price: HK$8,320,000

Northern Song Dynasty, Ding ware white-glazed bowl with incised peony design and divided lobed rim.
24.5 cm

Estimate: HKD 400,000 - 800,000

Transaction price: HK$5,376,000

Tang Dynasty Brown-glazed Dog
Height 25.4 cm

Estimate: HKD 150,000 – 300,000

Transaction price: HKD 5,248,000

Northern Song Dynasty, Ding ware white-glazed bowl with incised peony design.
20.7 cm

Estimate: HKD 400,000 - 800,000

Transaction price: HK$4,736,000

Bidding for outstanding Japanese artworks is fierce.

Wooden Four Heavenly Kings Standing Statue, Early Kamakura Period, 13th Century. Sold for HK$6,528,000, exceeding the high estimate by 16 times (estimate: HK$300,000 - 400,000) - 37 bids.

A Hasegawa school wave-themed screen from the early Edo period, 17th century, sold for HK$4,096,000, more than 13 times the high estimate (estimate: HK$200,000 - HK$300,000) - 39 bids.

A Hasegawa school floating boat screen, late Momoyama period to early Edo period, early 17th century, sold for HK$3,840,000, more than 15 times the high estimate (estimate: HK$150,000 - HK$250,000) - 46 bids.

A screen depicting swallows, by Yukika Kanzaka, from the early Taisho to early Showa period, sold for HK$3,584,000, nearly 36 times its high estimate (estimate: HK$80,000 - HK$100,000) - with 45 bids.

A deep bowl-shaped earthenware vessel (flame-shaped) from the first half of the middle Jomon period, dating from 3500 to 2500 BC, sold for HK$3,328,000, 11 times the high estimate (estimate: HK$200,000 - HK$300,000) - in 38 bids.