For most international auction houses, their evening sales (often considered as the climate of an auction) have always been an exclusive stage for Western works of art. However, the game is about to change. The Value has learnt from a source that Christie’s will hold its first evening sale for Chinese Works of Art and Paintings and it is planned to make debut at the coming autumn auction in Hong Kong.

Unveiling the evening sale is a ‘Wucai’ fish jar of Jiajing period, also the leading lot of Christie’s autumn auction. This ‘Wucai’ fish jar has an impressive provenance as it was once owned by a famous collector J.M Hu, the master of Zande Lou (Studio of Temporary Enjoyment). It is even rarer that the fish jar comes along with its original cover, labelled estimate upon request. The Value learnt from a reliable source that the fish jar is tentatively estimated at HK$180m (US$23m). That’s a very smart choice to start this unprecedented evening sale with a heated and intense bidding war.

The evening sale is now in the phase of sourcing works of art, which most of them are expected to fetch over HK$8m (US$1.02m). The ‘Wucai’ fish jar is now in the possession of Cao Xingcheng (image above), the master of Le Cong Tang. The prominent collector is also offering other precious works of art from the Ming dynasty for the autumn auction.

The Value will keep you all posted on any updates. Please stay tuned.

 

Le Cong Tang Collection for Christie’s Autumn Auction

Magnificent Wucai Fish Jar and Cover. Jiajing Period (1522-1566). Ming Dynasty.

Height: 46cm
Provenance:

• Collection of J.M Hu’s family
• Sotheby’s New York, 1 December 1992, lot 282.
• Sotheby’s Hong Kong, An Extraordinary Collection of Ming and Qing Imperial Porcelain and Works of Art from a Private Trust, 29 October 2000, lot 18.

Estimate: Upon Request (HK$180m/US$23m. The Value learnt from a reliable source)

A Fine and Extremely Rare Yellow-Enamelled Bowl. Xuande Period (1426-1435). Ming Dynasty.

Diameter: 15.2cm
Provenance:

• Sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 25 October 1993, lot 732.
• Eskenazi Ltd, London.
• Sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, The Meiyintang Collection Part III, 4 April 2012, lot 15.

Estimate: HK$26,000,000 - 35,000,000 (US$3.32m-4.47m)

An Important and Extremely Rare Blue and White Basin. Yongle Period (1360-1424). Ming Dynasty.

Diameter: 26.3cm
Provenance:

• Eskenazi Ltd, London, c2179.
• Sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 28 November 2006, lot 1510.

Estimate: HK$12,000,000 - 18,000,000 (US$1.53m-2.3m)

 

A Superbly Carved Cinnabar Lacquer Box and Cover. Yongle Period (1360-1424). Ming Dynasty.

Estimate: HK$8,000,000 - 12,000,000 (US$1.02m-1.53m)

A Highly Important Cinnabar Tixi Lacquer Hexagonal Ewer. Jiajing Period (1522-1566). Ming Dynasty.

Height: 23.8cm
Provenance:

• Sold at Christie’s London, 14 December 1983, lot 54.

• Sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, Important Chinese Lacquer from the Lee Family Collection, 3 December 2008, lot 2126.

Estimate: HK$6,000,000 - 8,000,000 (US$770,000-1.02m)

An Exceptional and Rare Red-Ground Yellow-Enamelled ‘Dragon’ Jar. Jiajing (1522-1566). Ming Dynasty.

Height: 13.4cm
Provenance:

• Manno Art Museum, no. 388.

• Sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, One Man’s Vision, Important Chinese Art from The Manno Art Museum, 28 October 2002, lot 540.

Estimate: HK$4,000,000 - 6,000,000 (US$510,000-770,000)

 

Auction details

Auction house: Christie’s Hong Kong
Auction: November 2017