Hong Kong is one of the world’s largest art market. Indeed, during the World War II, Hong Kong has already become a trading hub of art pieces and artefacts. The last emperor in Chinese history, Puyi, left the Imperial Palace after the Republic of China was established, along with over a thousand of paintings and calligraphies recorded in Shiqu Baoji, the comprehensive catalogue of imperial collections. The Japanese Invasion, followed by the Chinese Civil War—the instability of the times brought these valuable imperial collections to scattering across the country. Travelling through Jilin, Shenyang, Beijing and Shanghai, part of the collections then arrived Hong Kong and were being called “Dongbei Huo” (goods from the Northeast China”).

While the “Dongbei Huo” was awaiting at the habour, yet to be shipped overseas; merchants and antique traders from different parts of the world gathered at Hong Kong competing with each other and the Chinese government for the fine paintings and calligraphies. Finally, the Chinese government had successfully retrieved around 40 of them.

Certainly, the civil society also contributed a lot. Mr Low Chuck Tiew (1911-1993), founder of the Xubaizhai Gallery, purchased some of the Shiqu Baoji paintings and calligraphy, and generously donated them to Hong Kong Museum of Art. The exhibition “Lost Treasures of the Shiqu Baoji in Hong Kong—Selection of Chinese Paintings and Calligraphies from the Xubaizhai Collection” is now opened. Exhibition highlights include “Three Flowers of Early Spring” by Zou Yigui, “Eulogy on the Restoration of the Great Tang Dynasty in Running Script” by Dong Qichang, and artworks by Emperor Qinglong of Qing.

Exhibition Highlights

"Autumn Mountains" by Tang Dai

Exhibition Details

Date: November 30,2016 - March 20, 2017
Venue: Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Exhibition Website

Opening Information of Hong Kong Heritage of Museum

Opening Hours:
10:00 - 18:00, Mondays, Wednesdays to Fridays
10:00 - 19:00, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
(Closed on Tuesdays)

Address:
1 Man Lam Road, Sha Tin, Hong Kong

Phone:
+852 2180 8188

Admission:
Free (No additional charge for this exhibition)