HONG KONG.- Following the announcement of “The MQJ Collection Special Exhibition” and the book launch of Three Decades of Ming Furniture, Christie’s presents “Eternal Ming – Treasures from The MQJ Collection”, a dedicated auction comprising 15 lots of important classical Ming furniture and tabletop objects. This live auction will be held on 29 November 2024 at The Henderson, Christie’s new Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong.

Taking place during Christie’s inaugural Asian Art Week in Hong Kong in November, this will be the first time that the finest masterpieces from the MQJ Collection are presented at a dedicated auction, reaffirming Christie’s position as the global platform for outstanding Asian art.

Crowned the ‘Queen of Huanghuali’ by collectors, Grace Wu is the world’s leading expert and collector of Ming furniture. Assembled over three decades, the MQJ Collection features the finest and rarest examples of huanghuali and zitan furniture in almost all categories of Ming furniture. Each piece reflects the collector’s profound admiration for the enduring elegance and allure of Ming furniture, the design and form of which transcend boundaries of time and space. The MQJ Collection is unrivalled in quality and rarity. The Special Exhibition of the MQJ Collection, including selected sale highlights, will be on display from 11 to 15 October at Christie’s new Asia Pacific headquarters in The Henderson.

The sale presents an exquisite selection of 15 exceptional and rare pieces from the MQJ Collection, including a huanghuali incense stand. Sought after for its graceful curves and classical beauty, this huanghuali incense stand features long and slender cabriole legs that are balanced and elegant. While examples with octagonal tops can be found in records from the Ming dynasty, this is one of the only two pieces made of huanghuali. The other piece was previously owned by Wang Shixiang, and is now in the collection of the Shanghai Museum.

Further highlights include a couch bed Luohan chuang with marble panels, as well as a pair of large square-corner cabinets made of precious huanghuali throughout.

Kevin Ching, Chairman, Christie’s Asia commented: “It is a privilege to partner with Grace Wu, the 'Queen of Huanghuali’, to present the dedicated auction of highlights from The MQJ Collection. Grace is the leading expert in Ming furniture. Meticulously assembled over 30 years, every piece in her MQJ Collection represents a perfect harmony of the finest materials and creative ingenuity, epitomising the highest aesthetic standards across time and space. We eagerly anticipate sharing the extraordinary beauty of Ming furniture at the MQJ Special Exhibition and Auction Preview at The Henderson.”

Marco Almeida, Head of Department, Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Christie’s Asia Pacific says: “We are pleased to present ‘Eternal Ming – Treasures from The MQJ Collection’ during the inaugural Asian Art Week at The Henderson, Christie’s new Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong. This sale is set to attract the attention of collectors and art enthusiasts worldwide, continues to underscore Christie's commitment to presenting prestigious single-owner collections for collectors and reinforce our market leadership for exquisite and rare Chinese ceramics and works of art.”