Archaic Chinese jades garner US$10.2 million in white-glove sale

Christie's Hong Kong held their third sale of archaic jades from the Chang Wei-Hwa Collection, and it produced favourable results.   

All 77 lots offered were sold, a white-glove sale with a 100 per cent sale rate was achieved. In the end, the sale total was HK$79.8 million (around US$10.2 million) dollars. The bidding atmosphere was enthusiastic, as many lots were hammered at multiple times their low estimates the highest was 16 times. 

An archaic dragon-shaped jade pendant was the sale’s most valuable lot. It was sold at HK$15.2 million (around US$1.9 million) dollars, with buyer’s premium.

The bidding atmosphere was enthusiastic

Chang Wei-hwa 

Chang Wei-hwa is a prominent art dealer. He was instrumental in helping the formation of several private jade collections in Taiwan – including the Chang Foundation, Yangdetang, Lantian Shanfang and Jinhuatang.

Among three sales held by Christie’s Hong Kong from Chang Wei-Hwa’s Collection, this season's Part 3 – Spring and Autumn & Warring States Period Sale performed the most brilliantly:

  • Part 1  Neolithic Period | 58 lots, Sale Rate: 95%, Sale Total: HK$65,752,500 (around US$8.4 million)
  • Part 2  Xia, Shang and Western Zhou Dynasties | 75 lots, Sale Rate: 100%, Sale Total: HK$46,240,000 (around US$5.9 million)
  • Part 3 – The Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period|77 lots, Sale Rate: 100%, Sale Total: HK$79,887,500 (around US$10.2 million)

Lot 2713 | Carved jade dragon-form pendant

Created in late Warring States period, circa 300-221 BCE
Length: 9.1 cm
Provenance:

  • Jinhuatang Collection, acquired in Taipei in 1998

Estimate: HK$2,800,000 – 4,000,000

Hammer Price: HK$12,500,000

Sold: HK$15,250,000 (around US$1.9 million)

The auctioneer, Liang-lin Chen, started bidding at HK$2.2 million dollars. The bidding was mainly competed amongst three figures – Chi Fan Tsang, International Director of the Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Department; Kim Yu, International Specialist Head of Chinese Paintings; and a lady from the auction room.

After more than 30 bids, the hammer was dropped at HK$12.5 million dollars and the audience erupted in a round of applause. The winning bid was by Kim Yu for his client. In the end, it was sold at HK$15.2 million (around US$1.9 million) dollars with buyer's premium.

The jade pendant was hammered at HK$12.5 million (around US$1.6 million) dollars

Kim Yu with the winning bid

This present pendant is an example of fine jade carvings from this period. The double S-shaped body of the dragon shows an unusually strong modulation and a high degree of curvature, filling the mythical animal with a sense of movement and vivacity.

The finely incised pattern on the dragon’s body comprising ruyi scrolls, comma spirals, triangles and other shapes filled with criss-cross design – further distinguishing the present pendant from other contemporary examples.

The jade dragon first appeared in the Hongshan culture of the Neolithic period (4700-2900 BCE), with a round body and a simple shape. During the Spring and Autumn period (771-476 BCE), single jade dragon ornaments were more commonly found. Most of which were drilled in the middle, so that the owner could keep the dragon's body balanced when worn.


Lot 2754 | Jade inset bronze ge-halbred blade

Created in late Spring and Autumn to early Warring States periods, circa 570-400 BCE
Length: 13.5 cm
Provenance:

  • Dexinshuwu Collection, acquired in Taipei in 1997

Estimate: HK$1,800,000 – 2,500,000

Hammer Price: HK$8,000,000

Sold: HK$9,850,000 (around US$1.2 million)

In general, ge is an ancient Chinese long-handled weapon, popular in the Shang (1600-1046 BCE) and Zhou dynasties (1046-256 BCE). But this ge was produced out of jade, so it was used as a ritual tool in sacrificial ceremonies. 

The decorative motifs, such as the hui dragons and the phoenix used on the bronze haft is similar to the bronze moulds excavated from the Eastern Zhou Jin Kingdom site, Niu Village, in southern China.


Lot 2723 | Greyish-white jade reticulated dragon and phoenix pendant

Created in late Warring States period to early Western Han dynasty, circa 300-141 BCE
Length: 10 cm
Provenance:

  • Jinhuatang Collection, acquired in Taipei in 1996

Estimate: HK$3,800,000 – 5,000,000

Hammer Price: HK$5,500,000

Sold: HK$6,850,000 (around US$870,000)

In the history of the development of Chinese jade art style, the Warring States period was a glorious era with vivid shapes and meticulous carvings.

Very few other jade ornaments from this period are as intricately carved as the present pendant, which is further distinguished by its white and balanced tone. The dragons have arched eyebrows, leaf-like horns, split -mouths, and arc-shaped jaws, which are similar in style to that found on jade ornaments excavated at the Changfeng, Lingzi and King of Nanyue tomb sites.

This pendant is pierced with a tiny hole on the left and right side for suspension, instead of a hole in the centre; suggesting that it would have been worn as the uppermost ornament in a string of group jade ornaments.


Other highlight lots:

During the sale, many lots were hammered at multiple times their low estimates – the highest was 16 times:

Lot 2755 | Qin-style jade openwork ornament

Created in late Spring and Autumn period, circa 570-476 BCE
Length: 5 cm
Provenance:

  • The Yangdetang Collection, acquired in Taipei in 1988

Estimate: HK$100,000 – 150,000

Hammer Price: HK$1,600,000

Sold: HK$2,000,000 (around US$260,000)

Lot 2711 | Jade dragon-form pendant

Created in Warring States period (475-221 BCE)
Length: 16.8 cm
Provenance:

  • Lantien Shanfang Collection, acquired in Taipei in 1991

Estimate: HK$60,000 – 80,000

Hammer Price: HK$550,000

Sold: HK$687,500 (around US$88,000)

Lot 2705 | Reticulated jade dragon-form pendant

Created in mid-Warring States period, circa 400-300 BCE
Length: 8 cm
Provenance:

  • Dexinshuwu Collection, acquired in Taipei in 1995

Estimate: HK$100,000 – 150,000

Hammer Price: HK$550,000

Sold: HK$687,500 (around US$88,000)

Lot 2753 | Two jade archer’s rings, She

Created in late Spring and Autumn Period to Warring States periods, circa 570-221 BCE
Length: 6cm
Provenance:

  • The Yangdetang Collection, acquired from E Yuan Tang Chinese Art, Taipei, prior to 1999

Estimate: HK$80,000 – 120,000

Hammer Price: HK$450,000

Sold: HK$562,500 (around US$72,000)

Lot 2732 | Large celadon jade chu-style pendant, Huang

Created in early to mid-Warring States period, circa 476-300 BCE
Length: 31.8 cm
Provenance:

  • Lantien Shanfang Collection, acquired in Hong Kong in 1993

Estimate: HK$80,000 – 150,000

Hammer Price: HK$450,000

Sold: HK$562,500 (around US$72,000)

Lot 2741 | Two jade shield-form ornaments

Created in early Warring States period, circa 476-400 BCE
Length: 7cm each
Provenance:

  • Lantien Shanfang Collection, acquired in Hong Kong in 1993

Estimate: HK$30,000 – 50,000

Hammer Price: HK$320,000

Sold: HK$400,000 (around US$51,000)

Lot 2708 | Celadon jade reticulated dragon-form pendant

Created in mid-Warring States period, circa 400-300 BCE
Length: 11 cm
Provenance:

  • The Yangdetang Collection, acquired in Taipei in 1990

Estimate: HK$60,000 – 80,000

Hammer Price: HK$320,000

Sold: HK$400,000 (around US$51,000)


Auction Summary:

Auction House: Christie’s Hong Kong

Sale: The Chang Wei-Hwa Collection of Archaic Jades Part 3 – Spring and Autumn & Warring States Periods

Date: 3 December 2021

Sold: 77

Sale Rate: 100%

Sale Total: HK$79,887,500 (around US$10.2 million)