It was not possible to ascertain if number 149 was a member of the overseas trade or a local buyer for that trade but the purchases are almost certainly heading overseas.
The purchases continue China's hunger for its the return of the heritage of its region that has escaped overseas and which is proving a bonanza for local auction houses and consignors paralleling that being enjoyed by local agri-business which cannot be so easily sold to offshore buyers.
Mr Bleakley's only disappointment in this melee was a stone head of a Lohan which alone among his eight consigned lots, mostly around 20 to 30 cm tall, failed to sell.. This figure paradoxically in Buddhism is a monk-like figure who has overcome earthly cravings and is one step away from Nirvana.
The Song Dynasty Lohan was estimated to make $12,000 to $15,000 and was purchased for $9560 from the sale of the Alex Biancardi collection three years ago, also held by Mossgreen.
The managing director of Mossgreen, Mr Paul Sumner, must have felt a bit like a Lohan as the sale was conducted in the swish new premises in Armadale where Mr Bleakley had himself conducted so many sales over the years.
The combined value of Mr Bleakley's consignment was about $250,000 but grossed $380,000. Some of this, of course, will go as buyers premium to Mr Sumner's auction house which has now merged with Charles Leski auctions.
Mr Bleakley said he had chosen Mossgreen, as opposed to Sotheby's Australia which he originated, but now operates under different ownership, because Mossgreen had developed a very impressive niche in the market for the sale of small single owner collections.
The usually most desirable bidding number 888 did little damage at the sale with 149 dominating the fray and taking lots 175, 176, 177, 179, and 180 among others.
Apart from 149 – which in no way has a lucky connotation in Chinese numerology - there was much more activity on the phone. Mr Sumner said there were 500 plus individual condition report requests, a record for the auction house.
More buyers appear to have relied on the auction descriptions as several notables did not attend and there was a barrage phone and internet bidding. But earlier sales featured more porcelain which buyers like to inspect themselves.
In the morning session at the height of the sale, there was a packed room for the Asian art, and the 150 occupied seats plus those standing indicated an attendance of possibly 500 people in all.
Number 149's cheque for at least $414,983 more than covered Mr Bleakley's sales..
The mystery buyer therefore made a very useful contribution to the $1.91 million gross including BP, which compared with a $1.4 million total lower estimate. Estimates do not include BP.
From the Julian Sterling collection, which has also been dispersed in recent times, Mr Bleakley's Chinese gilt-bronze seated figure of Mahakala, (Nag.po.chen.po), Defender of the Faith, Early Ming Dynasty, 15th century at an estimated $50,000 to $60,000 made $146,400.
Some of the Chinese buyers returned to the room for the furniture and décor to give it a lift as seen from local buyers at recent auctions
The highest price was not for a piece from Mr Bleakley's collection, It was another a gilt-bronze seated Buddha, which estimated at $20,000-30,000, sold for $170,800 to a buyer said to live only yards from the auction house.
The vendor had paid little for it a few years ago and was clearly delighted even when told the estimate.
A massive pair of carved Chinese ivory tusks from Qing Dynasty also drew a lot of attention in the saleroom. Owned previously by great Chinese businessman and politician, Cheong Fat Zhe (1840-1916), the intricately carved tusks sold well over their estimates for $67,100 (including buyer's premium).
This continues the demand for animal horn which was seen a little while ago at an auction at Webb's in Auckland where a price of $NZ797,300 ($Au687,600) was paid for a pair of antique carved rhinoceros horns.
A rare Himalayan 6th century bronze six-armed Bodhisattva had little reason to have downcast eyes when it made $21,960 although it was the only Bleakley piece which was below the lower estimate, if buyers premium is not included.
A rare Chinese gilt-bronze figure of Guanyin, Yuan/early Ming Dynasty, 13th-15th century, also from Mr Bleakley's collection made a handsome $79,300.
Many of the pieces could be related to pieces in major museums.
Mr Bleakley was selling to raise funds to advance his collection as a kind of Wunderkammer as Chinese Buddhist art has now become very expensive.
