HONG KONG.- Sotheby’s saw spirited bidding for top-quality works today at the second installment of the Ullens Collection auctions in Hong Kong. Holding the sale in a packed house populated by dozens of mainland Chinese, alongside local buyers and dealers, Sotheby’s saw opening bids for some lots open far beyond their low estimates due to the sheer amount of bidders. At times, Jing Daily observed bid increments skyrocket from HK$2.2 million to HK$3.5 million to HK$4.5 million, generally for rare pieces like Ding Yi’s “Appearance of Crosses 2001.8 (triptych),” which eventually sold for HK$5.4 million (US$693,000), nearly four times its low estimate. With phone bidding noticeably more energetic than at other recent auctions, buyers at the second Ullens auction were highly competitive for the renowned Belgian collector’s blue-chip works. While this auction had more second-tier works than t