Asian art is the order of the week for Sotheby’s and Christie’s

Auction houses Christie’s and Sotheby’s are holding an auction of valuable Asian art as part of their semi-annual Asia Week.

According to Reuters, the sales, which began on Monday, will include bronze Buddha statues, modern art, hanging scrolls as well as a number of carved rhinoceros horns which have been featured on Antiques Roadshow.

On top of that, ceramics, ancient calligraphy and furniture are all on sale with a total estimate of around $100 million (£63 million).

Last year’s event saw sales come in at a massive $117 million (£73.7 million) and this year’s could rival that with officials saying Asian art is a key driver in the global market.

The opening of the event saw Sotheby’s auction of South Asian modern and contemporary art get underway with the Village With Church painting, once owned by Asia Society founder John D. Rockefeller III.

Priyanka Mathew, head of the Sotheby’s sale, told Reuters that the Rockefellers “were two of the most important early champions of modern Indian painting in the United States”.

Asian art has already seen some strong activity over the course of the past year with interest remaining high.