On the afternoons of July 27 and 28, 2024, two important auction categories of the “20th Century Vietnamese Art” session were successfully held. The event, organized by LE AUCTION HOUSE, commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Indochina College of Fine Arts. With a total of 350 artworks presented, the auction achieved positive results, with a hammer rate of 77.4%.
The auction was conducted through a direct auction model in the United Kingdom combined with online bidding on the LE AUCTION HOUSE website. This “20th Century Vietnamese Art” auction attracted significant interest from art collectors both domestically and internationally. Over the two consecutive auction days, 271 artworks found new homes. Of these, 76.3% were successfully auctioned through the website and 23.6% through phone bids.
This can be considered one of the most significant auctions in terms of the number of Vietnamese artworks introduced by a domestic auction house in recent times. Throughout the event, all artworks were provided with detailed and transparent information regarding their prices. Some lots received particular attention from enthusiasts, with lively proceedings and consecutive bids from multiple participants. Notable results include:
Image 1: Victor Tardieu (1870 – 1937). A Good Book, 1904. Oil on canvas. Signed lower right. 46 x 54.9 cm. Hammered at $50,000
Image 2: Joseph Inguimberty (1896 – 1971). Northern Vietnam Landscape, 1933. Gouache on paper. 34.5 x 43.5 cm. Hammered at $20,000
Image 3: Alix Aymé (1894 – 1989). Family with Pets, ca. 1940. Ink and color on silk. 29 x 43 cm. Hammered at $24,000
Image 4: – Left: Lê Phổ (1907 – 2001). Girl with Fan. Ink and gouache on silk. Signed “lepho” and sealed lower right. 40.8 x 23 cm. Hammered at $150,000
– Right: Lê Phổ (1907 – 2001). In the Garden. Signed “lepho” and inscribed with Chinese characters lower right. 65 x 50 cm. Hammered at $95,000
Image 5: Vũ Cao Đàm (1908 – 2000). Portrait. Ink and color on silk. 34.9 x 41.3 cm. Hammered at $65,000
Image 6: Lương Xuân Nhị (1914-2006). Riverside. Ink and watercolor on silk. Signed lower right. Hammered at $240,000
Image 7: Trần Đông Lương (1925-1993). Young Woman, 1985. Ink and color on silk. 49.5 x 69 cm. Hammered at $30,500
Image 8: Lưu Công Nhân (1930 – 2007). Young Woman, 1995. Oil on canvas. Signed and dated upper left. 66 x 86 cm. Hammered at $18,000
These results once again highlight the optimistic signals for the Vietnamese painting market. Furthermore, the auction model connecting Vietnam and the UK serves as a bridge to introduce Vietnamese art to a broad range of international collectors. These efforts represent the significant contributions of a Vietnamese auction house striving to elevate Vietnamese art.
From a macro perspective, thanks to a stable economy and the rise of the middle class, the overall situation of the art market in Vietnam in 2024 shows promising development prospects. Collaborations with international auction houses and the presence of Vietnamese artworks in the international market also contribute to the growth momentum of the domestic art market. Gradually, LE AUCTION HOUSE is adding a voice for transparency as an intermediary aiming for the development of the overall market, with a diverse supply of artworks, appropriate estimated prices, and professional conduct.
PV
