HONG KONG.- On May 28, Christie's will present Through Connoisseurs’ Eyes – Works of Art for the Emperor, a sale of 22 imperial works sourced and curated in collaboration with Coobie Chui and Milton Man, two well-known connoisseurs in the field of Chinese art. Highlights include a magnificent Qianlong gilt-bronze vase inlaid with multi-coloured paste glass and a cloisonné enamel rectangular panel inscribed with an imperial poem.

At a very young age, Coobie and Milton were fascinated with the world of Chinese works of art. Through extensive research, traveling, and friendships, they opened their business, Qiankuntang in Hong Kong. They are recognized as the younger generation of collectors and became well-respected among their peers. Almost thirty years later, Coobie and Milton are offering works from their personal collection, as well as a selection of works from collector-friends, resulting in an immersion of knowledge in antiques and art. This sale is comprehensive and comprises an interesting selection of metalworks, wood, bamboo and jade carvings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. “We are very honored to be collaborating with Christie's and our colleagues in facilitating this sale. Together, our group effort will hopefully contribute a little towards the continuation of our cultural heritage. I hope our precious "teachers and friends‟ will find even better homes, so that more collectors can love, appreciate and pass them down. This is our greatest wish,” said Coobie Chui.

Leading the collection is a magnificent and rare imperial paste-inset gilt-bronze vase and cover, Qianlong Period (1736-1795) (Lot 3011, Estimate: HK$5,000,000-7,000,000 / US$625,000-875,000). This dazzling gilt-bronze vase is inlaid with multi-coloured paste glass, a decorative technique that was inspired by European automation clocks that so enchanted the Qianlong Emperor. Although the technique is western, the style of the vase and its decorative theme is undoubtedly Chinese. The use of two bats as handles is very auspicious, as bat, fu, is homophone to fortune. Coupled with the character ji, auspicious, as a central roundel on the main band, it is not difficult to guess the good intentions hidden in the choice of motifs. The well-meaning wishes conveyed by this vase points to the possibility that it may have been commissioned as a birthday gift for the Qianlong Emperor. This vase is a great example of how western techniques and aesthetics were adapted by Chinese artist for the palace.

The sale also includes an imperial inscribed cloisonné enamel rectangular panel, Qianlong Guisi cyclical date, corresponding to 1773 and of the period (Illustrated right, Lot 3015, Estimate: HK$2,000,000-3,000,000 / US$250,000-375,000). This finely enameled panel is decorated with a pair of pheasants standing on blue rocks surrounded by a variety of flowers all below a gilt poem by the Qianlong Emperor alluding to the scene, followed by the cyclical Guisi date. The poem on the panel, composed by the emperor, is recorded in Yuzhi Shiji, Compilation of Imperial Poems, vol. 4, juan 9, dated 1773. The original title of the poem as recorded in Yuzhi Shizi suggests that the panel is based on a painting by Yang Dazhang, an esteemed court painter during the Qianlong reign and the poem is after the style of Wen Tingyun, a celebrated poet from the late Tang dynasty who was highly regarded by the Qianlong Emperor.