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He Libin has become one of the country's top auctioneers. Guo Yingguang Inset: One of the pair of Duomu pots that He Libin auctioned off at $13 million last month. Courtesy of He Libin
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As the day wears on, the bidding at the auction grows more intense around a pair of $10 million porcelain pots. He Libin, one of the country's most experienced auctioneers, takes in the packed hall in one glance. The participants all have their own style of bidding: One regularly holds up his plate with great fanfare; another casually lifts his finger; and another waves his hand as if in greeting.
The auctioneer must see the entire hall, and studiously ensure that there's no other gesture of bidding before striking the hammer to announce a sale. A misstep is not only an embarrassment, but also a potential financial loss.
"Don't hesitate when the chance is coming." "Trust the brand and trust your friends." "Any more bids? Any other bids? Are there any more?" says He, a 40-year-old man with gold-rimmed glasses, in a considerate but authoritative voice.
Eventually, He brings down the hammer and a new record is set: The pair of 28-cm high Jingtailan (cloisonn enamel) Duomu pots, a container for butter tea made by the Tibetan people during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), are sold for 90.72 million yuan ($13 million).
The deal accomplished in June
