It has become a ‘tradition’ in recent years for the two main auction houses in Hong Kong to hold a major sale in both Spring and Autumn, as well as one or two smaller ‘Chinese Art’ sales. In this year’s spring sales, Poly Auction (HK) has joined in ‘the game’. They will be holding two small sales in May, featuring Chinese ceramics, Chinese paintings and calligraphy.

The first sale, Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, is led by a rare and large blue and white 'Shou' dish from the Qianlong Period. It belonged to an American private art museum collection previously and has an estimate of HK$ 2m - 2.5m.

Measuring 44.5cm in diameter, the dish has curved sides rising to a flat everted rim. The interior is painted in deep underglaze-blue with a large central roundel enclosing a writhing five-clawed dragon, clasping between its two front claws a shou medallion, surrounded by scrolling clouds and flames. The history of similar ceramics can be traced back to the Yuan Dynasty. As trade flourished in the Ming Dynasty, blue and white ceramics became more popular and in the Qing Dynasty, they were used for celebrations for the Emperor.

The next leading lot is an enamelled 'yangcai' 'children' wall vase from the Qianlong period. It is 12cm in height and has an estimate of HK$1.8m - 2.2m.

 

The wall vase was uniquely shaped after the brushpot, moulded with three indented gilt edged canted panels. These panels are painted with flowers like camellia and lotus, all reserved on a turquoise ground.

Another featured lot is a white and russet jade archaistic 'Taotie' vessel from the Qianlong period, measuring 10cm in height. Its estimate is HK$600,000 - 1,000,000. The shorter side of the vessel’s exterior has a long-tailed phoenix bird with its tail sweeping above the rounded tip of the vessel. The interior is finely incised with a long inscribed poem, ending with the characters Qianlong Yuti, 'Imperially composed by the Emperor Qianlong '.

The white tone of the material with areas of the russet skin highlights the overall design, along with an undulating mouth rim, bordered with a key fret band.

On to Chinese paintings and calligraphy, works of Zhang Daqian are the leading lots. One is Landscape after Shi Tao which depicts a pine tree thriving at the top of giant rocks. The front scene and the background are connected with the river flowing away. The scholar is meditating on the boat and appreciating the splendid views by the riverside. The painting has an estimate of HK$800,000 - 1,000,000.

Another painting from Zhang is Chinese Herbaceous Peony which has an estimate of HK$400,000 - 800,000. The artist painted a red herbaceous peony and a piece of yellow herbaceous peony stretching out and the two branches of flowers were leaning on each other, much alike a couple in love. The painting reveals the purity and elegance of herbaceous peony.

 

Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Top Lots

 

 

A Rare And Large Blue And White 'Shou' Dish
Qianlong Period, 1736-1795

Lot no.: 3759
Diameter: 44.5cm
Provenance:

• An American Private Art Museum Collection

• Collection of Dr. Petersburg

Estimate: HK$2,000,000 - 2,500,000

An Enamelled 'Yangcai' 'Children' Wall Vase
Qianlong Period, 1736-1795

Lot no.: 3777
Height: 12cm
Provenance:

• Sotheby's Hong Kong, 1 November 1999, Lot.450

• Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8 October 2006, Lot.1121

Estimate: HK$1,800,000 - 2,200,000

A White And Russet Jade Archaistic 'Taotie' Vessel, Gong
Qianlong Period, 1736-1795

Lot no.: 3716
Height: 10cm
Estimate: HK$600,000 - 1,000,000

 

The Beauty of Brushes—A Selection of Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy (4) Top Lots

Zhang Daqian Landscape after Shi Tao (mounted, ink and color on paper)

Lot no.: 310
Painted: 1936
Size: 136 x 68cm
Estimate: HK$800,000 - 1,600,000

Zhang Daqian Chinese Herbaceous Peony (mounted, ink and color on paper)

Lot no.: 311
Size: 69.5 x 135cm
Estimate: HK$400,000 - 800,000

 

Poly Auction Hong Kong Spring Sales

Venue: Poly Gallery Hong Kong (7/F, One Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong)
Preview: 2018/5/24 - 26｜10am - 7pm

Sale: Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art
Auction: 2018/5/27｜10:30am

Sale: The Beauty of Brushes—A Selection of Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy (4)
Auction: 2018/5/27｜1pm