(Ecns.cn)--In recent years, works of Chinese painting and calligraphy have become increasingly attractive to collectors and investors for their value-added potential, making them the dark horses of the auction market.
Prior to 2009, most of these works could only fetch about one million yuan, even if they were by famous ancient artists. But in 2010, there were 10 works that sold for over 100 million yuan (US$15.76 million). Here's the top five.
1) "Pillar Ming" by Huang Tingjian
On June 3, 2010, the hand scroll "Pillar Ming" by ancient calligrapher Huang Tingjian (1045 to 1105), was sold for 436.8 million yuan (US$68.82 million), including the brokerage fee, after 66 bids during an auction in Beijing, making it the most valuable artwork sold in 2010.
Huang is regarded as the finest calligrapher of the Song Dynasty and is one of the four masters of the period. "Pillar Ming" was passed down by Huang's family and then handed to famous collectors during the Qing Dynasty. Due to social instability the work was stored in Japan for awhile, and then handed to a Taiwanese collector before the sale in Beijing.
