Earlier today saw Christie’s Hong Kong Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art auctions, with one of the highlight sales dedicated to archaic jades, dating back to the Bronze Age (ca. 1100–770 BCE), brought an exciting kick-off for the day.
The star of the auction was definitely an inscribed white jade blade, dating back to the late Shang dynasty, which triggered fierce competition in the room, starting at HK$3m from a bidder on the phone, even before the auctioneer Elaine Kwok announced its opening price.
After 13 intense bids, a determined gentleman in the room, with the paddle number 86, took home the inscribed jade blade, along with at least nine other items sold at the sale.
In the end, the blade became the top lot achieving HK$6,490,000 (US$ 837,000) with premium, more than double the pre-sale low estimate - still a little less than the market expectation, but given the on-going travel restrictions, it was a fairly impressive achievement.
Keen collectors gathered in the saleroom, with those who could not make it to the venue due to the travel ban placing bids on the phone and online, many looking to own one of the 75 lots that feature the archaic jade artifacts which hold important historical values. The lots presented were consigned by Chang Wei-Hwa, an advocate of ancient Chinese art.
In the end, the auctioneer brought back Lot 2723, a jade Kui-dragon head owl-form ornament, which was a pass earlier on and was eventually sold to a bidder on the phone, whose paddle number was not available at the time. The auction ended as a white-glove sale; every precious piece found its new owner, totaling a whopping HK$46.2m with premium.
The sale was built on the well-received feedback from last year’s auction - “The Chang Wei-Hwa Collection of Archaic Jades, Part I - Neolithic Period,” which fetched a total of over HK$53.7m before premium, which is 3.5 times higher than the total estimates. Following the success of that, this year’s sale brought to the auction room rare pieces from across Xia, Shang, and Western Zhou dynasties.
Jade was regarded by the ancient Chinese as the most precious material, prizing it even more than gold. Highly appreciated for the translucency and clarity, the precious stone, in the earlier days, came in the form of ritual implements and articles of personal adornment. In Neolithic times, the dagger, like the top lot presented, was a symbol of power status of the ruling class.
Lot 2707 | Inscribed “Marquis Mi” White Jade Ge-halberd Blade
Late Shang Dynasty, C. 1300-1100 BC
29.8 cm long
Provenance: Jinhuatang Collection, acquired in Taipei in 1998
Estimate: HK$2,500,000 - 4,000,000
Hammer price: HK$5,200,000
Price realized: HK$6,490,000
The jade blade is carved with a median ridge extending on both sides with beveled edges continuing to where the blade begins to taper to the point, with a hole drilled through the tang below incised cross-hatching design between horizontal lines.
Incised in a vertical line next to the hafting bar is a four-character inscription in oracle-bone script - “Qi hou Mi yong (㠱侯彌用),” meaning “for the use of the Marquis Mi of Qi,” qi (㠱), is believed to be the name of an ancient state.
The blade is polished overall; and the craftsmanship also points to a ceremonial, rather than practical use as a weapon. It is also worth mentioning that it is extremely rare to find archaic jades from the late Shang, Western, and Eastern Zhou periods bearing inscriptions, adding to the significance of this piece.
Closer looks at the Inscribed “Marquis Mi” White Jade Ge-halberd Blade
Here are the remaining top lots of the sale:
Lot 2705 | Turquoise-inlaid And Jade-inset Bronze Axe, Qi
Shang Dynasty, C. 1600-1046 BC
21 cm long
Provenance:
-
John Sparks, London
-
Chen’s Curios Co., Taipei
-
Lantien Shanfang Collection, acquired in Taipei in 1991
Estimate: HK$1,800,000 - 2,500,000
Hammer price: HK$5,000,000
Price realized: HK$6,250,000
Lot 2706 | Turquoise-inlaid And Jade Inset Bronze Ge-halberd Blade
Late Shang Dynasty, Anyang Phase, C. 1300-1100 BC
31.3 cm long
Provenance:
-
C. T. Loo & Co., New York
-
Frank Caro, New York, 1964
-
Arthur M. Sackler Collection
- Sold at Christie’s New York, 18 March 2009, lot 227
Estimate: HK$1,200,000 - 1,800,000
Hammer price: HK$5,000,000
Price realized: HK$6,250,000
Lot 2708 | Jade Ge-halberd Blade
Late Shang Dynasty, 12th-11th Century BC
48.9 cm long
Provenance: Jinhuatang Collection, acquired in Taipei in 1998
Estimate: HK$1,500,000 - 2,500,000
Hammer price: HK$1,600,000
Price realized: HK$2,000,000
Lot 2714 | A Celadon Jade Carving of An Owl
Shang Dynasty, C. 1600-1046 BC
4.8 cm long
Provenance: Lantien Shanfang Collection, acquired in Taipei in 1996
Estimate: HK$800,000 - 1,200,000
Hammer price: HK$1,800,000
Price realized: HK$2,250,000
Lot 2702 | Jade Ceremonial Blade, Yazhang
Erlitou culture or slightly earlier
32 cm long
Provenance: Lantien Shanfang Collection, acquired in Taipei in 1991
Estimate: HK$500,000 - 700,000
Hammer price: HK$1,800,000
Price realized: HK$2,250,000
Auction Summary
Auction House: Christie’s Hong Kong
Sale: The Chang Wei-Hwa Collection of Archaic Jades - Xia, Shang and Western Zhou Dynasties
Date: November 30, 2020
Lots offered: 75
Sold: 75
Sale by lot: 100%
Sale total: HK$46,240,000