New York’s annual Asia Week drew over 400 international collectors, curators, designers and scholars last month who previewed and purchased—to the tune of $175 million—an array of treasures originating from all over Asia.

According to Carol Conover, the newly appointed Chairman of Asia Week New York and director of Kaikodo LLC, this year saw a 25% increase in dealer participants, showing a big trend and need for Asian art in the New York City area. From antique ceramics to contemporary art and everything in between, there seems to be growing interest in the specialty area.

"New York has at least four major institutions (Asia Society, China Institute, Japan Society and The Rubin Museum) dedicated to Asia and its art," said Conover of the impact Asian Art is having on NYC. "The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses one of the world's finest collections of Asian art. The city has many major dealers in the field, strong auction sales and has always been welcoming to foreign Asian art dealers, making New York an important destination for private collectors, the many curators of Asian art in the U.S. and their donors."

Kapoor Galleries represent Indian and Himalayan Art

"I noticed some new museums visiting, which have not done so in the past, such as the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Korean National Museum, as well as the regulars such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum, Newark Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Dallas Museum of Art and some of the University Museums: Lowe Museum at the University of Miami, Smart Museum at University of Chicago, Yale University Art Gallery,” said Suneet Kapoor of the Kapoor Galleries in New York.

A Famille Rose Enameled Porcelain Ruyi Scepter. 19th Century from Jadestone

"We sold most of our top items,” said Erik Schiess of the Portland, Oregon-based Jadestone. “Approximately two-thirds of the sales were to mainland Chinese buyers and the rest were to European and American clients. "… the one [item] with the most interest was the Imperial Chinese scepter from the Jiaqing period (1796-1820). We also sold a 14th century wooden model of Manjushri, a number of jade carvings, Buddhist bronzes, a late Shang Dynasty ritual vessel (Jue) and many fine snuff bottles including jade, imperial porcelain and agate."

Milan-based Carlo Cristi sold the highlight of his exhibition, the richly saturated Heruka mandala made for the Bardo ritual, the transitional stage time between death and reincarnation, and the very earliest mandalas known to exist, as well as a selection of bronzes.

Asia Week New York will be held March 14 – 22, 2014 and Conover hopes for even more interest in the year to come. For additional information on the items sold, visit the website.