A Touch of Red for the New Year

D uring the Lunar New Year, which falls on 25 January in 2020, it is always nice to add a touch of red to your environment. It is well known that the color is prominent in Chinese culture. Traditionally in the new year as well as other joyous occasions such as weddings and festivals, everything would be awash with scarlet and vermilion. Beyond its enduring appeal, red holds specific and important meaning culturally. The auspicious color gives off warmth, bringing to mind the fire and the sun, and thus has associations with vitality, youth, and fertility. Because of its striking nature, red in many other cultures is also identified as having intense qualities – i.e., passion, love and power.

In paintings as well, the color red would often symbolize that bloom of life. It isn't an accident that red is one of the two most popular colors that sell at auction, because of its visceral impact and emotional power.

There are so many shades – from cinnabar and crimson to burgundy, rose and more – the color is extremely versatile, and adding stylish accents of red can fill a room with energy. Selected from works presented in Sotheby's upcoming sales, below are beautiful decorative objects and furniture that would add style to the home and usher in prosperity in the new year.