Christie’s had a tight schedule on the last day of its spring sales. Another sale that took place in the morning was Leisurely Delights of a Transient Life, where the leading Qianlong Imperial yellow hanging vase was hammered down for HK$15m whereas most other top lots were hammered down at their low estimates or below. The sale offered a total of 88 lots and recorded a 69% sold by lots. It realised a sale total of HK$103m.
Leading the sale was an imperial yellow jade hanging vase and cover, Heting You. The 'You' vase is 15.3cm high, carved with the reign mark in seal script on its base. It was estimated at HK$12m - 18m. The underside incised with three characters in seal script 'yong bao yong' (to be eternally treasured). Generally, that Qianlong 'fanggu' (fanggu means imitating the arhaic works) reign marks are often applied to celadon jades, as an attempt to imitate archaic bronzes.
The bidding started at HK$8m and received bids offered by absentee bidders and telephone bidders. The vase was finally hammered down for HK$15m and sold for HK$18.1m to an absentee bidder.
Realising the second highest price was an iron-red decorated blue and white ‘mythical sea creatures’ stem cup, inscribed with the six-character reign mark within a double circle. The 9.9cm-wide stem cup formerly belonged to the Andrew L. and Amanda Adams Love Collection and was offered at Christie’s New York in 2005. It was estimated at HK$10m-15m.
Pola Antebi, International Director, Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art
The auctioneer started the bidding at HK$7.5m and put the hammer down at HK$10m, just enough to reach the low estimate. It was sold to Pola Antebi, International Director, Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art.
The third top lot was a pair of ‘guan’ inscribed ding square dishes, estimated at HK$8m-12m. Each dish is covered overall with a clear glaze except for the unglazed base incised with a 'guan' (official) mark. During the late Tang to Five Dynasties period, Ding replaced Xing ware as the producer of the finest white ceramics. It was during this period that Ding wares began receiving the long-lasting patronage from the imperial court. The majority of guan-marked Ding wares are rounded bowls or dishes.
Joan Ho, Associate Specialist of Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Department
This pair of dishes was finally hammered down at HK$7.8m, below the low estimate. They were sold for HK$9.46m to the telephone bidder represented by Joan Ho, Associate Specialist of Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Department.
Top three lots sold at Leisurely Delights of a Transient Life
An Important and Extremely Rare Imperial Yellow Jade Hanging Vase and Cover, Heting You
Qianlong Incised Four-character Seal Mark and of the Period (1736-1795)
Lot no.: 2930
Height: 15.3 cm
Provenance:
- The Jade Collector Gallery, Beverly Hills, 1994
- The Harold E. Stack Collection of Chinese Jades
Estimate: HKD 12,000,000 - HKD 18,000,000
Hammer price: HK$15,000,000
Price realised: HK$18,100,000
An Important and Extremely Rare Iron-red Decorated Blue and White ‘Mythical Sea Creatures’ Stem Cup
Xuande Six-Character Mark in Underglaze Blue within a Double Circle and of the Period (1426-1435)
Lot no.: 2946
Diameter: 9.9 cm
Provenance:
- Andrew L. and Amanda Adams Love Collection, New York
- Sold at Christie’s New York, 20 September 2005, lot 251
Estimate: HKD 10,000,000 - HKD 15,000,000
Hammer price: HK$10,000,000
Price realised: HK$12,100,000
An Important and Very Rare Pair of ‘Guan’-Inscribed Ding Square Dishes
Five Dynasties-early Northern Song Dynasty, 10th Century
Lot no.: 2925
Diameter: 9.6 cm
Provenance:
- Chang Wei-Hwa & Co., Taipei, 12 November 1992
Estimate: HKD 8,000,000 - HKD 12,000,000
Hammer price: HK$7,800,000
Price realised: HK$9,460,000
Auction summary
Auction house: Christie’s Hong Kong
Sale: Leisurely Delights of a Transient Life
Lots offered: 88
Sold: 61
Unsold: 27
Sold by lots: 69%
Sale total: HK$103,570,000
Sale date: 2018/5/30