A Japanese tea bowl set an auction record, driven by Chinese buyers.
Auction houses have announced 78 art lots in the past week ahead of the autumn sales.
Strong stock markets and bonuses support buyers.
Chinese collectors are increasingly buying art from other countries, such as Japan. With interest rates high, cash and bonds now pay a good return, which competes with art for buyers' money. The October sales in London will be the first big test.
Our art data shows values but not the names of individual works, so we report totals and counts rather than single sales. Rising supply in October is normal ahead of the big autumn auctions. Asian bidding will be watched closely.
What could change this. Against this: a single record lot does not make a market.
So-what: Asian collectors are an important source of demand this season.
What to watch. The October London sales; Asian bidding; New York in November.