Fall 2015, Sotheby's Hong Kong held the "Ming Furniture – The Dr S.Y. Yip Collection" sale, auctioning big furniture items from Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty. At that sale, all 38 lots were sold, fetching HK$260m in total. This spring, the "Ming Furniture – The Dr S.Y. Yip Collection" sale comes to Hong Kong again, featuring small furniture items with the theme of "Portable Treasures", while most lots, just like last time, were purchased from the gallery of Grace Wu Bruce, known as "the Queen of Huanghuali".

The lot with the highest estimate is a dressing case, possibily made in the Palace Workshop. This piece is made in precious huanghuali wood throughout, including the interior tray and all the interior drawers which are usually made of less expensive soft or tieli wood. The deeply carved doors with scenes of figures and pavilions, the scene depicted might be that of the Queen Mother of the West and the King of the East, seated amongst their celestial court officials standing in attendance. While deer and cranes are carved on the lower part of the doors, as symbols of propitiousness and longevity.

The lot with the 2nd highest estimate is huanghuali table shelves. Very simple design, four uprights with a top and two shelves and four shaped aprons slightly recessed at the base. This piece is suitable for use on table tops as well as on the kang. Among the top lots, there is only one non-huanghuali item, which is a zitan box made in early Qing dynasty, dragons are beautifully carved on the top and the front side.

 

Auction Details

Auction House: Sotheby's Hong Kong
Sale: Portable Treasures The Dr S.Y. Yip Collection
Sale No.: HK0727A
Lots: 28
Viewing:
2017/3/31 10am-5:30pm
2017/4/1-2 10am-8pm
2017/4/3-4 10am-6:30pm
Sale Time: 2017/4/5 2pm

 

Top Lots

A 'HUANGHUALI' DRESSING CASE WITH CARVED DOORS AND GILT-BRONZE FITTINGS, LATE MING - EARLY QING DYNASTY

Lot No.: 3508
Size: 37 × 39.1 × 32.1cm
Estimate: HK$800,000 - 1,200,000

‘HUANGHUALI’ TABLE SHELVES, LATE MING DYNASTY

Lot No.: 3518
Size: 49.9 × 59.1 × 28.5cm
Estimate: HK$480,000 - 650,000

A ZITAN BOX WITH CARVED DRAGONS, EARLY QING DYNASTY

Lot No.: 3505
Size: 14.9 × 38.4 × 20.8cm
Estimate: HK$380,000 - 550,000

A ‘HUANGHUALI’ HIGH-WAISTED KANG TABLE, LATE MING DYNASTY

Lot No.: 3521
Size: 27.7 × 61.7 × 46.6cm
Estimate: HK$380,000 - 550,000

A ‘HUANGHUALI’ TABLE CABINET, GUANPIXIANG, LATE MING - EARLY QING DYNASTY

Lot No.: 3511
Size: 31 × 33.4 × 26cm
Estimate: HK$380,000 - 550,000

A ‘HUANGHUALI’ BOX, EARLY QING DYNASTY

Lot No.: 3516
Size: 18.5 × 44.2 × 24.8cm
Estimate: HK$380,000 - 550,000