125-year-old Monet painting fetches $30 million at auction in Hong Kongbr br A 125-year-old Claude Monet painting sold for $30 million in Hong Kong on Thursday, September 27, setting a new record for the French painter in Asia, according to the auction house.br br The painting, named “Nympheas" (1897–99), which remained in Monet's family for decades after his death in 1926 before landing in a private collection, was making its auction debut.br br The auction house Christie's had estimated the piece would fetch between $25 million and $35 million. However, it sold at a hammer price of $25.8 million (excluding fees), at the bottom of the estimated range.