Christie's brand new Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong is poised to open next month at The Henderson in the heart of Central. To celebrate this significant milestone, the auction house has recently unveiled a series of events. 

An upcoming highlight is a major exhibition showcasing the finest collection of Chinese Ming dynasty furniture from the MQJ Collection – perhaps the largest and most comprehensive one in private hands. Slated to run from 11 to 15 October, the event features close to thirty pieces carefully chosen by Grace Wu, the collection's owner and leading expert in Ming furniture, known affectionately as the "Queen of Huanghuali" by collectors. The centerpiece of the special exhibition is a late Ming Huanghuali Alcove Bed, which is one of two examples known. 

Alongside the exhibition, Wu's latest publication, Three Decades of Ming Furniture, will also be launched. 

Assembled over thirty years by Grace Wu, the Muquju Collection (木趣居; “Lodge of Wood Delights”), shortened to the MQJ Collection, is arguably the most sizeable, representative repository of Ming furniture. Comprising well over 100 pieces (sets), it spans nearly every category, from tables and chairs to incense stands and beds, all selected based on four criteria: beautiful design, superb craftsmanship, excellent condition, and rarity. 

Incense stands, for instance, are perhaps the rarest in surviving examples among the major types of Ming furniture – the MQJ Collection has four pieces, each of exquisite form and in perfect condition. No other private collection, too, contains nearly thirty tables of different designs and construction methods and twenty kinds of seats, with many rare examples, some unique. 

And there is the star of the collection – the huanghuali alcove bed, also a major highlight of Christie's exhibition. The only other surviving example known is in the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, USA, and the design, construction, and condition of the MQJ one are all a notch above that, according to Wu. 

Today, Ming furniture is recognized worldwide for the richness of the wood, the elegant simplicity of the design, and the intricate construction. Each piece is made without nails, the wood connected by a mortise and tenon system of joinery that requires great skill to master.

But for a long time, it was a neglected field; things changed only in 1985, when Wang Shixiang, renowned Chinese scholar and Palace Museum specialist, published his seminal book Classic Chinese Furniture. The publication brought to light the value of such pieces and elevated the genre into the realm of art, leading to an influx of quality works onto the market. 

While Grace Wu, an antique lover since young, had already acquired a small bulk of Ming furniture for her home before the world discovered this "hidden gem" of China, it was during this golden age of Ming furniture collecting in the 1980s and 1990s that she began turning her passion into a life-long career. 

As an avid collector, she would love to seize the opportunity to snap up all the great pieces available on the market, yet as a private collector she realized it was way too ambitious a goal. To keep her collecting apace, she found herself a solution: to open a gallery specializing in Ming furniture, and then the Grace Wu Bruce Gallery came about. "I bought all that I was able to and all that met my collecting standard without considering whether my fervent buying might result in too many for the gallery to sell. Over the course of six or seven years I accumulated a sizable stock," said Wu. 

In 1995, the Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture in California was to shut its doors and disperse its collection. At the time, it was the only institution open to the public that housed a large, comprehensive collection of Ming furniture, and her mentor Wang Shixiang expressed the wish for the collection to be kept together.

This inspired Grace Wu to take on the task of forming a whole, intact collection for future generations. In support of her vision, Wang Shixiang honored her with the collection name Muquju and gifted her calligraphy of the name as well as a collection seal. The special, rare pieces she accumulated for her gallery over the years would form the foundation of the MQJ Collection, and she would go on to expand and refine it. 

She learned along the way, by handling numerous pieces, distinguishing the authentic ones, and overseeing their restoration. Now she has established herself as the leading expert, collector, and most esteemed international dealer of Ming furniture. Underscoring her profound global influence in the field, besides orchestrating exhibitions across the world, including New York, London, Maastricht in the Netherlands, and Basel in Switzerland, she was the first person to mastermind landmark exhibitions on the subject at the Palace Museum and the Guimet Museum in Paris. 

Her personal collecting journey, along with nearly every category of Ming furniture she handled and discovered, will be shared in her latest publication, Three Decades of Ming Furniture, launched at Christie's in mid-October. It follows on from Grace Wu's earlier publications, Two Decades of Ming Furniture and Ming Furniture Through My Eyes. This new book not only analyses the unique structures and materials but also concentrates on each piece's social context and construction. 

Regarding the special exhibition, Grace Wu said, "An envoy of Chinese culture, Ming furniture represents the pinnacle of Chinese furniture craftsmanship, and is an essential part of an elegant lifestyle. The designs and forms transcend time and space, and can blend into any environment seamlessly, demonstrating a harmonious fusion of cultures. Signature Ming furniture that I carefully selected from my MQJ Collection will be showcased in the world-class gallery space at Christie's new Asia Pacific headquarters. I believe that this special exhibition will capture the perfect harmony between the finest materials and creative ingenuity, epitomising the highest aesthetic standards across time and space.

My latest book, Three Decades of Ming Furniture, will also be launched. This special collaboration with Christie's will offer experienced and newer collectors, and those who love and appreciate classical Chinese culture and art, a precious opportunity to delve into the timeless beauty and charm of Ming furniture. I look forward to sharing the joy of collecting with art enthusiasts worldwide, through this exceptional, beautiful, and inspiring experience."

Kevin Ching, Chairman of Christie's Asia, commented, "It is a privilege to partner with Grace Wu, the 'Queen of Huanghuali, to present the MQJ Collection Special Exhibition and to celebrate the launch of Three Decades of Ming Furniture in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai. Christie's is the auction house of reference for prestigious collections, and an important global platform for presenting masterpieces of Asian art in Hong Kong. Grace is the leading expert in Ming furniture and an important source of the finest pieces for museums and private collectors worldwide. We are confident that this synergy will amaze worldwide collectors in every category as well as classical Chinese furniture enthusiasts through an exclusive, museum-level experience. We eagerly anticipate sharing the extraordinary beauty of Ming furniture at The Henderson."

The MQJ Collection Special Exhibition

• Hong Kong | 11-15 October | Christie's New Asia Pacific Headquarters – 6th Floor, The Henderson, 2 Murray Road, Central

Book Launch of Three Decades of Ming Furniture

• Hong Kong | 11-15 October | Christie's New Asia Pacific Headquarters – 6th Floor, The Henderson, 2 Murray Road, Central
• Beijing | 31 October and 1 November | The Hong Kong Jockey Club Beijing Clubhouse – No. 68 Jinbao Street, Dongcheng District
• Shanghai | 4-7 November | Christie's Shanghai Art Space – BUND ONE, 4/F, No.1 Zhongshan Dong Yi Road

Book Signing of Three Decades of Ming Furniture (*By invitation only)

• Beijing | 31 October | The Hong Kong Jockey Club Beijing Clubhouse – No. 68 Jinbao Street, Dongcheng District
• Shanghai | 4 November | Christie's Shanghai Art Space – BUND ONE, 4/F, No.1 Zhongshan Dong Yi Road