Growing, growing and far from gone
The rise and rise of Hong Kong's stature as a key player in the international auction scene, all through the most challenging months of the pandemic, augurs well for the city's future as a pre-eminent, world-class arts hub. Joyce Yip reports.


The rise and rise of Hong Kong's stature as a key player in the international auction scene, all through the most challenging months of the pandemic, augurs well for the city's future as a pre-eminent, world-class arts hub. Joyce Yip reports.
What does a Sakura diamond and Patek Philippe watch have in common with paintings by Yoshitomo Nara and Jean-Michel Basquiat? These items have propelled Hong Kong's major auction houses into world-record-shattering stardom in the recent past.
Evidently, pandemic-induced travel restrictions, the economic slowdown, and droves of people migrating from Hong Kong recently have had little impact on the city's auction scene. It looks as buoyant as ever, with reports of white-glove sales and the revenue from both auctions and private sales exceeding pre-COVID-19 figures.