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Webinar Course Description
In the past 20 years, the Chinese art market has grown
dramatically, tracking the expansion of the Chinese economy, which is now the
world’s second largest. This webinar will provide an overview of the
socio-economic forces behind its dramatic growth and headline making prices at
auction, and the challenges of appraising and advising on Chinese art. According
to Artprice, since 2006, China has consistently been in the top three global art
markets and is the largest in Asia. Some sectors are booming with prices
often wildly exceeding auction high estimates, while others have stayed the same
or declined. Drawing on more than twenty-five years in the field of Chinese art
as an art historian, educator and appraiser, the presenter will address the
following: the factors behind the growth of certain sectors, the role of
mainland Chinese collectors and Chinese auction houses in driving the market,
why the IRS will not accept realized sales from Chinese auction houses, the
industry of fakes and forgeries of Chinese painting, sculpture, ceramics among other works of art and its impact on the market.
Recommended Pre-Reading
Michael Brice-Saddler, “A school bet its future on paintings worth $2.8
million - then learned their real value,” The Washington Post (March 4,
2019)
Melanie Gerlis, “The 5 Biggest Myths About the Chinese Art Market—and the
Inconvenient Realities That May Give Investors Pause” Artnet News (October
16, 2018) https://news.artnet.com/market/5-biggest-myths-chinese-art-market-1371619
“A Culture of Bidding: Examining the Growing Art Market in China” A
three part series in The New York Times: Part 1, David Barboza, Graham Bowley
and Amanda Cox, Part 1 “Forging an art market in China” New York Times (October
28, 2013), http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2013/china-art-fraud/index.html
and
Part 3, David Barboza, Jonah M. Kessel, Part 3, “The new collectors” New York
Times (December 17, 2013) http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2013/the-new-collectors/index.html
Lydia Thompson, “The Path of the Chinese Art Market: Boom or Bust,”
Journal of Appraisal Studies, Spring, 2012, pp. 159-167
Course Audience
Introduction to the Chinese Art Market, Challenges and
Opportunities is intended for Personal Property Appraisers, Advisors and anyone
interested in this dynamic and complex market. This course would be helpful to
fine art and generalist appraisers who may encounter Chinese art and antiques in their practice and want to know the pitfalls to avoid and best practices for appraising.
Instructor Information
Lydia Thompson, Ph.D, ASA | Principal | Thompson & Martinez Fine Art Appraisals, Inc.
Lydia Thompson is an accredited appraiser in Asian Art, and authority on the
art and archaeology of China. She has more than 25 years of experience as an art
historian, curator and educator, and 12 years as an appraiser. Dr. Thompson has
published scholarly and general interest articles and catalogs on Chinese art,
archaeology, and the Chinese art market. She received fellowships for her
research from The National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. and the Kress
Foundation for Art History. Dr. Thompson has a B.A. in East Asian Studies from
Middlebury College and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Art and Archaeology from New York
University, Institute of Fine Arts. She is currently a principal of Thompson
& Martinez Fine Art Appraisals, Inc. based in San Diego,
CA.