During Sotheby’s, New York, Fine Classical Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy sale on September 19, 2013, Su Shi’s (1037 – 1101) “Gong Fu Tie Calligraphy” stole the show. The ancient ink on paper, hanging scroll sold for over $8.2 million, about one-fourth of the entire sale.
According to the NY Times, when the buyer, Liu Yiqian, brought the work back to Shanghai to display in his private museum, local historians believed the work was a 19th century reproduction.
Sotheby’s “firmly stands by” its authenticity as a Chinese forgery would hurt them as they expand into mainland China and the growing Asian market.
Sotheby’s Report Defends Chinese Scroll It Sold as Authentic