Overall the October 2011 sale achieved a 64% clearance rate by number of lots, and a high 89% on value, based on the low estimate total.
However, as with the May 2011 Sotheby's decorative arts sale, it was the Chinese and Japanese ceramics works of art sold on day 2 of the sale that gave the sale a boost.
But unlike the May 2011 sale when a Chinese ‘Famille-Rose' ‘Hundred Boys' vase estimated at $15,000-20,000 sold to a Hong Kong buyer for $400,000 ($480,000 IBP), there were no Oriental "sleepers" of significant value.
The strength of the Chinese market in purchasing and repatriating their heritage was illustrated in November 2011, when a Chinese Qianlong vase (1735-1796) which had been estimated to sell between £800,000 and £1.2 million. sold in Ruislip, UK for £43 million pounds (IBP) .
In that case it was reported the auctioneers had to make a trip to China and wait for around 10 months as well as accept a reduction in their commission on the sale, before the buyer would settle.
Sotheby's Australian reportedly achieved settlement on its 'Hundred Boys" vase in a few weeks"
Day 2, the oriental section of the October 2011 sale sold 83% of the lots by number, and raised $964,200 at hammer compared with a low estimate total of $614,700 giving a clearance rate by value of 157% based on the low estimate total.
Amongst the stronger results were a yellow-glazed Hongzhi mark dish (Lot 306 ) estimated at $15,000 - 20,000 which sold for $50,000 hammer; a large Ming Dynasty 'Longquan' celadon barbed rim dish (Lot 393 ) sold at more than double the low estimate at $32,000, as did an early 20th century carved ivory set of the eight immortals (Lot 442 ) which sold for $31,000 hammer.
Day 1, which included 109 lots of Australiana including the historic 1867 Melbourne Cup and the 1867 Queen's plate trophy won by Tim Whiffler which sold for $600,000 hammer raised a total of $1.036 million at hammer, and sold 49% by hammer and 70% by value based on the low estimate total.
Day 3, which included 194 lots of European decorative arts & furniture sold 59% by number and 64% by value based on the low estimate total.
Highest price for the third evening was $24,000 bid for a handsome late 19th century Louis Solon porcelain pate-sur-pate green vase, which had been estimated at $5,000 - 7,000.
Unlucky number syndrome may have had a part to play in the result for the Royal Worcester where only five of the 13 lots sold, although the lots that did sell were the more valuable lots in the group, with $16,000 hammer, ($1,000 above the low estimate), being paid for the circa 1900 Royal Worcester vase and cover by Charles Baldwyn, (Lot 643 ).
There were no takers for theArchitettura Trumeau cabinet, by Piero Fornasetti, (Lot 672 ) estimated at $28,000 - 35,000. Sotheby's had last sold one of these cabinets for $48,000 hammer at its October 2008 sale.
Overall Sotheby's Australia decorative arts department has had a good year, with each of the two sales boosted by one exceptional item: the unexpected price paid for the "Hundred Boys" vase in the may sale and the October sale by 1867 Melbourne Cup and the 1867 Queen's Plate trophies, which sold for the low estimate of $600,000.
Both May and October sales were boosted by the oriental section, and the results proved that non-oriental lots have to be keenly priced if they are to move.