Rating and value of Chinese bronzes

If you own a Chinese bronze and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will be happy to offer you their appraisal services. Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on today's market. Then, if you wish to sell your work, we'll guide you towards the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price.

Rating and value of Chinese bronzes

Chinese bronzes are very popular at auction, whatever the period. There are many Buddha statues, but the rarer ones are also in demand. Prices for these works are now reaching unprecedented heights under auctioneers' hammers. They are particularly prized by Chinese buyers. The price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €10 to €6,292,000 - a considerable delta, but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to Chinese bronzes. In 2020, a gilded bronze Buddha statue sold for €70,000, whereas its estimate was between €30,000 and €40,000.

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious

Technique and age of Chinese bronzes

Chinese bronzes are timeless, with techniques that don't vary greatly from one era to the next. Some of them are very old, dating back as far as 2000 BC, i.e. from what is commonly known as the Bronze Age. The earliest bronzes are found on archaeological sites in Henan and Gansu.

The history of Chinese bronzes, from the Bronze Age to the present day 

The first Chinese bronze elements were found on archaeological digs in 2014. They date back to the Neolithic period. Bronze is thought to have been discovered in the region of present-day China through experimentation, by hammering or melting copper. Chinese craftsmen soon invented alloys by adding copper to tin, and sometimes lead. Their first products were weapons and cutting tools. Mineralogical sites were present, notably in Henan, which facilitated the work of craftsmen.

Thanks to these mineral sites, the peoples of present-day China quickly figured out how to make ceramics. Objects were first used to create ritual vases. They were soon to be made in bronze. As soon as these objects were made, the reliefs were worked and engraved. The molds used to make these bronze objects were made of ceramic, a material they were able to preserve.

With the emergence of the first dynasties, bronzes became an object of power and authority, identifying the rank of each individual. These objects often bear inscriptions: in fact, they were inherited and the name of the heir is inscribed on the bronze. Sometimes, the name of the heir is also inscribed. It is often these inscriptions that enable the bronze to be dated.

Bronzes were produced throughout imperial China, from 221 B.C., with the Qin dynasty, to 1912, with the Qing dynasty. During the Han dynasty, around 150 B.C., bronzes were already being produced as works of art, with carvings of animals (horses, rhinoceroses).

Bronze statues of Buddha began to appear as early as 220 BC, with the Han dynasty, and production has grown steadily ever since.

Reasons to auction a Chinese bronze

If you own a Chinese bronze and would like to sell it, auctions are the way to go. Chinese buyers are very present on the auction market and attend many sales when Chinese art is on display. What's more, Chinese bronzes are highly prized and many buyers are looking for them, whether it's a bronze of Buddha, another deity or an animal.

Dating your bronze

If an inscription is present on your bronze, it will probably be possible to give a date or a delta that will give more information about your object. Our experts will do their utmost to give you the most complete information possible.

Knowing the value of a work

If you happen to own a Chinese bronze, or think your object might be one, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal using the form on our website. A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your work, as well as any relevant information about it. If you wish to sell your work of art, our specialists will also be on hand to offer you alternatives for selling it at the best possible price, taking into account market trends.