Chinese Buying Frenzy Helps Sotheby’s to $540 Mln Record – it appears that the Chinese market is in full swing and the action is as hot as ever. Some of the prices paid are just mind boggling. $30.5M for a Yongle-period gilt-bronze seated Buddha, $18.2M for a Chenghua-era “Palace” bowl, $10.3M for a Zeng Fanzhi painting done in 2001, $11M for a Zao Wou-ki abstract and the $36M paid for the 118.28 D Flawless diamond.