In China and Japan in particular there has been a long tradition of collecting scroll paintings, calligraphy, and other scholarly works. However, a relatively new area of focus for the Asian art market has been modern and contemporary Asian paintings. There has been a notable upsurge in interest across the past decade with work by 20th century Chinese masters gaining increasing traction. There is also a renewed appreciation of the work of the Vietnamese artists who attended the Fine Arts College of Indochina and the artistic output of post-war Japan.
Sworders have gained a good foothold in this fast growing market. While we continue to achieve strong prices for traditional works, such as a silk hanging scroll painted with a horse and a groom in the style of the Yuan dynasty scholar Zhao Mengfu (sold for £12,350 in November 2021), recent sales have included a series of five-figure results for works by or attributed to 20th century names.
In May 2021 an ink and colour on silk mountainous landscape carrying the signature and seal of Zhang Daqian sold at £20,800, while in November 2021 an ink on paper calligraphy, with a dedication and signature of Wu Changshuo sold for £26,000.
To find out more about our forthcoming sales or talk further about potential consignments, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of our specialist team.
Our specialists hold regular valuation days. Please contact us for more information, or complete the online form to enquire about the valuation of your items.
Want to know how much your Asian Pictures & Calligraphy may be worth? Fill out our easy to use form and a member of the team will be in touch with free advice shortly.
During the latter half of the 19th century, North Indian calligraphers based in Delhi were working through a transformative period, as the Mughal Empire’s official patronage waned and British colonial influence expanded.
11 May 2026
In Japan, sound carries meaning far beyond what we hear. Few objects embody this idea more powerfully than the bonsho, large temple bells whose resonant tones have marked the passage of time, called communities to reflection, and echoed through centuries of spiritual life.
1 May 2026
The term ‘Company School’ refers to a genre of painting that emerged in India in the late 18th and 19th centuries, flourishing under the patronage of British East India Company officials, their families, and other European residents in India. Sworders Asian & Islamic Art department is pleased to present a curated selection of these wonderfully insightful works in their next auction on Friday 15 May.
20 April 2026
