Asian art at Osenat, in Versailles and Paris

Major collections of Asian art were formed in France through trade and travel; many of these pieces are now handed down within families.

Osenat holds several “Arts d’Asie” auctions every year at the Hôtel des ventes du Château in Versailles, as well as sales of non-European art at the Galerie de Breteuil in Paris. Asian works of art also feature in our furniture and works of art sales in Fontainebleau, where some of our finest results have been achieved.

The department is headed by Cédric Laborde, partner, working with Cabinet Ansas, Papillon et de Léry, experts in Asian art. It examines more than 2,000 objects a year, from French and international collections.

Chinese porcelain, jade and bronzes: the department’s specialities

Our sales cover every form of Chinese art, from the Neolithic period to the early 20th-century Republic:

• Porcelain and ceramics: vases, bowls and fishbowls in blue and white, copper red or polychrome enamels, often marked on the base.
• Jade: vases and scholar’s objects in celadon or pale green jade.
• Bronzes and cloisonné: patinated bronze incense burners, gilt bronze and cloisonné enamel spheres.
• Sculpture, including gilt lacquered wood Buddhas.
• Paintings and ink works, such as an ink attributed to Xu Beihong, sold for €60,000.
• Carpets, textiles and furniture, including silk velvet carpets from Xinjiang.

From Japan to Vietnam: the whole of Asia, from ancient China to the 20th century

Beyond China, our experts cover the entire Asian continent:

• Japan, from the Momoyama and Edo periods to the Meiji era: lacquer, Imari porcelain, prints, arms and namban chests inlaid with mother-of-pearl.
• Vietnam, especially artists trained at the École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine, founded in Hanoi in 1925: Nguyen Gia Tri, one of the great lacquer masters, or Tôn Thât Bao.
• India, Cambodia (Khmer art), Nepal, Mongolia, Thailand and Korea.

For China, we cover the Song, Yuan and Ming dynasties as well as the Qing reigns of Kangxi, Qianlong or Guangxu.

Recent auction results

• Tôn Thât Bao, Deux jeunes filles, 1936: estimate €15,000–20,000, hammer price €179,200, a world record for the artist (April 2026)
• Nguyen Gia Tri, Village dans la végétation, large lacquered wood panel, 1940: estimate €80,000–120,000, sold €365,400 (May 2024)
• China, Guangxu period, porcelain fishbowl decorated with two dragons: estimate €2,000–3,000, sold €315,000 (April 2024)

Every object is described by our experts, photographed and featured in a catalogue promoted worldwide; bidding takes place in the saleroom, by phone or online.

See our upcoming auctions in Versailles, our past auction results and our latest news.

Get a valuation or sell a piece of Asian art

Have you inherited a Chinese vase, antique porcelain, a jade or a bronze? Its value depends on its period, the quality of its material and decoration, its mark, its condition (cracks, restorations) and its provenance. Collectors look above all for rare pieces in good condition with a documented history.

Our valuations are free, confidential and without obligation. Send us a few photographs of the object, its base and any marks through our Asian art valuation form (in French). You can also meet us by appointment in Fontainebleau, Versailles, Paris or Chailly-en-Bière, or every Wednesday without an appointment during our valuation days. If you decide to sell, we look after everything from consignment to payment, about one month after the sale.

Frequently asked questions

How much is an antique Chinese vase worth?

It depends on the period, the quality and the condition. The differences can be spectacular: a vase sold for €9,121,000 in our salerooms. Only an examination by a specialist can give an accurate valuation of your vase.

How can I recognise valuable Chinese porcelain?

The fineness of the body, the quality of the decoration, the shape and the mark give the first clues. But reign marks were often copied in later periods: a mark alone is not enough to date a piece. Send us photographs of the object, its decoration and its base.

How can I get a Chinese object appraised for free?

Send us photographs through our online form, or come on a Wednesday without an appointment. Do not clean or restore it: our experts will examine it free of charge as it is.