A few years ago, a famous family book, which had made an animated millions of dollars in sky prices, was now hit by a dramatic price earthquake. Prominent painters such as fan zheng, once fired, are now shrunk in the auction market, making many tibetans sweat。
In 2011, fan zhuang's psalms were sold at a high price of $43. 7 million, and after only two years, the price of the same article's works fell to $32. 48 million, a 32 per cent contraction. This is not an example of the fact that the price of the works of contemporary painters is generally only about half of the peak of 2011, and that of calligraphy is even worse, at only 20-30 per cent。
The “cold winter” of the book market is no accident. Looking back at the development of the interior art market, from its rise in the early 1990s to the present, contemporary works of art once became a fragrance of the collection market。
Between 1997 and 1998, the price of eight-foot works by painters such as fan zheng, wang zian and shi guo liang was around $100,000, $30,000 and $25,000, respectively. By 2011, the best in the market, the price of their works had soared to 2. 8 million, 800,000 and 900,000 yuan, an increase of 25 to 35 times。
However, the bubble eventually breaks. Since 2012, the interior art market has begun to turn around as a whole, and contemporary writings have become the deepest readjustments. Among them, in december 2012, a central “eight-decree” was introduced, and anti-corruption actions severely hit the market for art “grateful bribery”, which has had a particularly significant impact on the contemporary book market, which was previously dependent on gift demand。
However, the market is not completely destroyed. In the current environment, there is a marked polarization in the book market。
No one cares about ordinary works, but the best is still the best. In the spring of 2025, the chinese written record of the auction was updated with a 20-fold overvaluation of 250 million hk$. Similarly, the masters such as fu qibashi made tens of millions of dollars。
This phenomenon attests to the golden law of the art market: “if you are not afraid to buy expensive, you are afraid to buy fakes”. Even if it were expensive, there would be room for appreciation in the future; but a fake painting would be worthless。
Another cause of market imbalances is the aesthetic transition brought about by intergenerational changes in the collection groups。
The older tibetans (60 years later, 70 years ago) gradually withdrew from the market, while the younger tibetans (90 years later, 00 months later) preferred contemporary art, nft or modern cultural derivatives. According to the survey, only 12 per cent of hidden homes under 35 classified traditional books as collection interests, far lower than contemporary paintings (68 per cent) and digital art (41 per cent)。
This change in aesthetic preferences has led to a lack of support for new mobility in the traditional book market. However, in the spring of 2025, contemporary bookboards showed significant growth, suggesting that the group of young tibetans was growing, although their interests might differ from those of older generations。
How can ordinary investors cope with such a complex market environment
Dropping heat for cooling is a good choice. Rather than chasing high-priced painters, attention should be paid to the “potential shares” that have not yet been fully exploited by the market. The works of some of the best young and middle-aged painters are now relatively priced and have greater scope for future appreciation。
The beginner can start with the work of the "minor" painter. These works are not only cheap but also cheap and can be obtained with lower inputs. If the painter becomes a celebrity in the future, you become a "black horse" in the world。
Clear investment plans were also important. Select suitable painters and works according to their economic strength, develop short-, medium- or long-term investment plans and adjust them to market changes。
Historical experience shows that markets are always cyclical. In recent years, china's gadeh has recorded a high turnover of 97-99 per cent of contemporary books and paintings, and although the total turnover has been lower, the market base remains。
Current market adjustments may be a necessary process for “crowding bubbles”. When speculators leave, real collectors have better access. After all, the cultural values of the fine works of art that have sunk through history will never be obsolete。
For those who truly love the arts, market fluctuations provide opportunities. In the age of the return of price rationality, the work of the heart can be collected at a more reasonable price. After all, the book collection is not just an investment, but a cultural legacy。
How do you see the large price volatility of van tsun works? Are you going to start writing this winter, or are you going to go to other collections? Welcome to the comment section
