Christie's Hong Kong has a track record of bringing exceptional private antique collections to market, from the legendary Au Bak Ling collection to the renowned Tianminlou and Wang Xing Lou sales. This spring, another standout single-owner collection auction is set to take center stage.
Titled Ravishing Blue: Imperial Porcelains from an Important Private Collection, the sale features three outstanding examples of imperial blue-and-white porcelain, each representing the pinnacle of craftsmanship from the Yongle (1403-1424), Yongzheng (1723-1735), and Qianlong (1736-1795) periods.
Held in the same collection for over two decades, these masterpieces are expected to fetch a combined total of over HK$100 million (US$12.8 million), making it one of the most anticipated sales of Hong Kong Asian Art Week.
Ahead of its auction on 2 May, the collection will go on an Asian tour, with stops in Shanghai and Taipei before returning to Hong Kong.
A fine and very rare blue and white ‘bamboo, rock and plantain’ vase, meiping
Yongle period (1403-1425)
Height: 35 cm
Estimate: HK$50,000,000 - 80,000,000 (US$6.5 - 10 million)
Few Chinese ceramics are as iconic as blue-and-white porcelain, and those produced during the Yongle and Xuande (1425-1435) periods of the Ming dynasty are widely regarded as the finest – so much so that, for a time, they were practically synonymous with China itself.
Among blue-and-white porcelains, Yongle-period meiping vases stand out as true classics, cherished not just by collectors but by generations of emperors. Known for their refined craftsmanship and elegant silhouette, they remain highly sought after, often commanding impressive prices at auction. Some notable sales in recent years include:
- Yongle blue and white meiping and a cover | 37.8 cm | Sold: HK$50.52 million, Christie's Hong Kong, 2016
- Yongle blue and white ‘fruit’ meiping | 28 cm | Sold: HK$48.28 million, Sotheby's Hong Kong, 2014
- Yongle blue and white ‘fruit’ meiping | 28.6 cm | Sold: HK$27.66 million, Sotheby's Hong Kong, 2017
- Yongle blue and white ‘fruit’ meiping | 29 cm | Sold: RMB 25.3 million, China Guardian (Beijing), 2020
- Yongle blue and white 'lotus' meiping | 31.4 cm | Sold: HK$24.57 million, Sotheby's Hong Kong, 2022
While Yongle-period meiping vases are already rare on the market, most feature floral or fruit motifs, making this example – decorated with a garden landscape of bamboo, rocks, and plantain – even rarer. Similar examples can be found in the Palace Museum in Beijing and the National Museum of China.
Close-up of the present lot
A similar example from the Palace Museum in Beijing
This type of vase, known as meiping (literally 'plum vessel'), is distinguished by its elegant, flowing profile: a narrow-waisted neck, a well-rounded shoulder, and a gently tapering body that flares slightly at the base.
In Chinese connoisseurship, this silhouette is often compared to the ideal male physique – its broad shoulders symbolizing strength and responsibility, while its narrow mouth suggests restraint in speech, a highly valued Confucian virtue.
The jewel-like blue on the porcelain comes from Smalt or Samarra cobalt, imported from Persia – an ingredient so scarce at the time that it was used only in limited quantities. Rich in iron oxide, these cobalt pigments created areas of deeper blue where the glaze pooled, an effect known as ‘heaped and piled’.
Due to this characteristic, blue-and-white porcelains from the period were seldom decorated with human figures. Instead, they were more often adorned with floral and animal motifs, with the varying shades of blue creating an effect reminiscent of ink painting.
A fine and extremely rare large blue and white ‘dragon’ vase, tianqiuping
Yongzheng six-character mark in underglaze blue in a line and of the period (1723-1735)
Height: 51.5 cm
Estimate Upon Request
Remarks: With a total low estimate exceeding HK$100 million, this lot is expected to fetch in the region of HK$50 million
If the Yongle meiping embodies elegance, this Yongzheng tianqiuping (literally 'celestial sphere vases') is a bold statement of imperial power. Considered one of the most striking forms in Qing imperial porcelain, the tianqiuping is among the rarest shapes produced for the court.
In recent years, two notable dragon-decorated tianqiuping have appeared at auction – both featuring underglaze blue and copper red:
- Yongzheng underglaze-blue and copper-red-decorated ‘dragon’ tianqiuping | 51.5 cm | Sold: RMB 147 million, Poly Auction Beijing, 2019
- Yongzheng underglaze-blue and copper-red-decorated ‘dragon’ tianqiuping | 51 cm | Sold: HK$56.03 million, Christie's Hong Kong, 2023
By contrast, blue-and-white tianqiuping featuring nine dragons are exceedingly rare. This Yongzheng-period example is one of the very few known, with a nearly identical piece housed in the Tianjin Museum.
Close-up of the present lot
Close-up of the present lot
A nearly identical piece housed in the Tianjin Museum
The Qing emperors deeply revered antiquity, and this piece reflects a Yongzheng-period revival of early Ming styles, particularly in its design and stylistic treatment.
The tianqiuping form itself, derived from Persian and Central Asian works, was an innovation of the Yongle and Xuande periods. Reminiscent of a celestial sphere, it features a generously proportioned globular body, topped by a tall cylindrical neck. While blue-and-white versions were reproduced during the Qing dynasty, few were decorated with a nine-dragon design like the present lot.
In a further nod to Xuande-period innovations, the Yongzheng reign mark on this vase is an unusual single-line horizontal inscription on the neck, rather than the more typical two or three vertical columns on the base. This experimental format was first introduced during the Xuande reign but was rarely continued in later dynasties.
A fine and very rare blue and white ‘peach’ vase
Qianlong six-character seal mark in underglaze blue and of the period (1736-1795)
Height: 25.3 cm
Estimate: HK$3,000,000 - 5,000,000 (US$390,000 - 650,000)
Blending auspicious symbols of longevity and good fortune, this Qianlong blue-and-white 'peach-and-bats' vase demonstrates the height of Qing craftsmanship and deliberate homage to early Ming decorative styles.
Peach motifs were especially popular during the Yongzheng and Qianlong (1736–1795) periods, with Yongzheng-period designs typically featuring eight peaches and Qianlong examples nine.
On this vase, the nine peaches symbolize longevity, while the five bats complement the theme, as their name forms a homophone for the Five Blessings (wufu 五福) – longevity, wealth, health, virtue, and a peaceful death.
Auction Details:
Auction House: Christie's Hong Kong
Sale: Ravishing Blue: Imperial Porcelains from an Important Private Collection
Number of Lots: 3
Preview:
- Shanghai | 1 – 3 April | Christie’s Shanghai Art Space BUND ONE, 4/F, No.1 Zhongshan Dong Yi Road, Shanghai
- Taipei | 19 – 20 April | Taipei Marriott Hotel, Grand Space 3rd Floor, No. 199 Lequn 2nd Road, Taipei
- Hong Kong | 25 April – 1 May | Christie’s New Asia Pacific Headquarters – 6th Floor, The Henderson, 2 Murray Road, Central
Auction:
- Hong Kong | 2 May | Christie’s Asia Pacific Headquarters – 6th Floor, The Henderson, 2 Murray Road, Central