HONG KONG.- Sotheby’s Hong Kong Spring Sales 2016 will take place from 2 to 6 April at Hall 5, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Exceptional objects encompassing Chinese Works of Art, Fine Chinese Paintings, Contemporary Ink Art, Contemporary Literati, Modern Asian Art, Contemporary Asian Art, Modern and Contemporary Southeast Asian Art, Jewellery, Watches and Wines will be offered.
Selected highlights will be showcased in travelling exhibitions in Jakarta (26 – 28 February), Shanghai (2 – 3 March), Beijing (5 – 6 March), Singapore (13 – 14 March), Taipei (19 – 20 March) and Tokyo (22 – 23 March), followed by a public exhibition of all properties on offer at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 1 to 5 April.
AUCTION CALENDAR AND HIGHLIGHTS^ (in chronological order)
WINE｜2 & 3 APRIL
The Private Cellar of an International Collector
Rare Wines & Whiskies (2 April)
The sale consists of more than 250 lots totalling HK$6.2 – 10 million / US$800,000 – 1.25 million. The collection features a spectacular selection of top class wines and whiskies around the world such as multiple vintages of Pétrus, Le Pin, Chambertin by Armand Rousseau, Masseto, Vega Sicilia Unico and Screaming Eagle. Whisky highlights include Karuizawa and Ichiro’s Card Series.
• Chateau Pétrus 2000 (6 bottles) Est. HK$150,000 – 200,000 / US$19,000 – 25,000
Finest and Rarest Wines
Featuring Ornellaia Archivio Storico (2 & 3 April)
Over 800 lots will be on offer in Finest and Rarest Wines featuring Ornellaia Archivio Storico, estimated at HK$18 – 27 million / US$2.3 – 3.5 million. Highlights include the 2016 release of ‘Ornellaia Archivio Storico’ direct from Ornellaia, with bottles and larger formats available from 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2006. There will be no additional bottles from these vintages offered in future releases by Ornellaia. Moreover, this sale will feature an extensive selection of top wines from distinguished private cellars, including fine and rare wines spanning over a century.
• Ornellaia Archivio Storico 1997 (3 magnums); Est. HK$10,000 – 18,000 / US$1,300 – 2,400
• Ornellaia Archivio Storico 2001 (1 double magnum); Est. HK$7,000 – 13,000 / US$900 – 1,700
• Ornellaia Archivio Storico 1995 (1imperial); Est. HK$9,000 – 15,000 / US$1,200 – 1,900
MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ASIAN ART EVENING SALE｜3 APRIL
Modern Asian Art
• Chu Teh-Chun (1920–2014) Clartés paisibles 1985, oil on canvas, 97 x 130 cm Est. HK$13 – 25 million / US$1.7 – 3.2 million
• Wang Huaiqing (b. 1944) Traces of Nature-2 (diptych) 2004, oil on canvas, 256 x 200 cm Est. HK$12 – 18 million / US$1.5 – 2.3 million
• Ju Ming (b. 1938) Taichi Series: Single Whip 1990, wood, 70 x 35 x 49 cm Est. HK$2.8 – 3.8 million / US$359,000 – 487,000
Contemporary Asian Art
• Liu Wei (b. 1965) The Revolutionary Family Series (triptych) 1994, oil on canvas and wood 172 x 381 cm Est. HK$30 – 40 million / US$3.8 – 5.1 million
• Nara Yoshitomo (b. 1959) Untitled 2007, acrylic on canvas 162 x 145.5 cm Est. HK$10 – 15 million / US$1.3 – 1.9 million
• Tanaka Atsuko (1932–2005) 90C 1990, synthetic polymer paint on canvas 130.5 x 80.5 cm Est. HK$1.8 – 2.8 million / US$231,000 – 359,000
Modern and Contemporary Southeast Asian Art
• Hendra Gunawan (1918–1983) Ali Sadikin Pada Masa Perang Kemerdekaan (Ali Sadikin during the Independence Struggle) 1978, oil on canvas 200 x 302 cm Estimate upon request
• Isaac Israels (1865–1934) Portrait of a Nobleman Circa 1915, oil on canvas 112 x 64 cm Est. HK$3.5 – 4.8 million / US$449,000 – 615,000
• Mai Trung Thu (1906–1980) Cueillette de Nénuphars (Waterlilies Picking) Circa 1940s, ink and gouache on silk 61 x 75 cm Est. HK$300,000 – 400,000 / US$38,000 – 51,000
MODERN ASIAN ART DAY SALE｜4 APRIL
• Chu Teh-Chun (1920–2014) Matière dominée 1992 Oil on canvas 162 x 130 cm Est. HK$6 – 8 million / US$769,000 – 1 million
CONTEMPORARY ASIAN ART DAY SALE｜4 APRIL
• Ai Weiwei (b. 1957) Grapes 2008 Wood 80 x 175 x 57 cm Est. HK$1.5 – 2.2 million / US$192,000 – 282,000
• Park Seobo (b. 1931) Ecriture No. 910116 1991 Hanji paper on canvas 97 x 130.4 cm Est. HK$800,000 – 1.2 million / US$103,000 – 154,000
MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY SOUTHEAST ASIAN ART DAY SALE｜ 4 APRIL
• Hendra Gunawan (1918–1983) Landscape 1978 Oil on canvas 150 x 300 cm Est. HK$2 – 3 million / US$256,000 – 385,000
• Sudjana Kerton (1922–1994) Mencari Kutu (Picking for Lice) 1985 Oil on canvas 96 x 66 cm Est. HK$450,000 – 680,000 / US$58,000 – 87,000
• Mai Trung Thu (1906–1980) La Calligraphie 1964 Ink and gouache on silk fixed on paper laid on board 44.5 x 94.5 cm Est. HK$180,000 – 280,000 / US$23,000 – 36,000
CONTEMPORARY INK ART - THE ORIGO COLLECTION｜4 APRIL
The Origo Collection at auction is the first single-owner collection of contemporary ink art at auction worldwide. Offering 83 lots, the sale represents a significant survey of a contemporary genre, epitomising the diversity of contemporary ink art works that vary in scale, concept and stylistic approach. The sale will see a total estimate in excess of HK$35 million / US$4.6 million.
• Liu Dan (b.1953) Poppy 2008 Ink on paper, framed 212 x 148 cm Est. HK$2.5 – 4 million / US$323,000 – 520,000
• Xu Lei (b.1963) Tree of Blue Underglaze 2008 Ink and colour on paper, framed 211 x 120 cm Est. HK$3 – 5 million / US$387,000 – 645,000
• Liu Guosong (Liu Kuo-Sung) (b.1932) Universe is My Heart #4 (Quadriptych) 1998 Ink and colour on paper, framed Overall 182 x 349.7 cm Est. HK$4 – 6 million / US$520,000 – 775,000
FINE CHINESE PAINTINGS｜4 & 5 APRIL
Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy from the Yong Li Studio (4 April)
Accumulated over 30 years by a Hong Kong connoisseur, the Yong Li Studio collection features a rich variety of Chinese paintings and calligraphy works, spanning the period of Ming and Qing dynasties through the 20th century. The collection includes both established names and scholarly works, revealing the impeccable taste of the studio owner.
• He Tianjian (1891–1977) Rise of the Brilliant Sun 1959 Ink and colour on paper, hanging scroll 132 x 68 cm Est. HK$1 – 1.5 million / US$128,000 – 192,000
• Zhang Daqian (1899–1983) Leisure Stroll through Mountains 1946 Ink and colour on paper, hanging scroll 164 x 69.2 cm Est. HK$12 – 15 million / US$1.5 – 1.9 million
Fine Chinese Paintings (5 April)
• Zhang Daqian (1899–1983) Misty Gorges 1966 Splashed ink and colour on paper 194.4 x 102 cm Est. HK$10 – 12 million / US$1.28 – 1.5 million
• Wu Guangzhong (1919–2010) Lijiang by the Yulong Mountains 1978 Ink and colour on paper, framed 87.7 x 69.6 cm Est. HK$3.5 – 5 million / US$448,000 – 641,000
• Qi Baishi (1864–1957) Amaranth and Doves Ink and colour on paper, hanging scroll 135.2 x 33.6 cm Est. HK$2 – 2.5 million / US$256,000 – 320,000
LITERATI / CURIOSITY II｜5 APRIL
The Literati/Curiosity II sale stands at the crossroads of the Chinese scholar’s aesthetic and the European cabinet of curiosity and presents a thought-provoking assemblage of ancient Chinese scholar’s rocks, old master drawings, contemporary Japanese photography, Song dynasty tea bowls, fragmentary sculpture and contemporary ink paintings.
• A Small Lingbi Scholar’s Rock Ming - Qing Dynasty Est.: HK$60,000 – 80,000 / US$7,700 – 10,300
• A Superb Ying Scholar’s Rock Song - Ming Dynasty Est. HK$1.2 – 1.8 million / US$153,800 – 231,000
MAGNIFICENT JEWELS AND JADEITE ｜5 APRIL
• 4.08-carat Fancy Vivid Orange Diamond and Diamond Ring Est: HK$12 – 14 million / US$1.5 – 1.8 million
• Unheated Burmese Ruby and Diamond Bracelet, Cartier Paris, Circa 1920 Est: HK$3.8 – 5.3 million / US$480,000 – 680,000
• Impressive Jadeite Ring Est. HK$30 – 35 million / US$3.8 – 4.5 million
IMPORTANT WATCHES｜6 APRIL
• Vacheron Constantin An Impressive set of Twelve Automatic Wristwatch with Day, Date and Engraved Miniature Mask Dial Métiers d’Art – Les Masques Circa 2009 Est. HK$7.8 – 12 million / US$1 – 1.5 million
• Vacheron Constantin A Fine and Magnificent White Gold and DiamondSet Tonneau-Form Tourbillon Wristwatch Ref 30682 Malte Regulator Tourbillon Circa 2009 Est. HK$2.4 – 3.6 million / US$310,000 – 460,000
• Patek Philippe An Extremely Exquisite Pink Gold and Diamond-Set Automatic Wristwatch with Moon-Phases, Power Reserve Indication and Matching Dress Set Ref 5724R-001 Nautilus Circa 2014 Est. HK$1.5 – 2 million / US$190,000 – 260,000
CHINESE WORKS OF ART│6 APRIL
The Pilkington Collection of Chinese Art
The Pilkington Collection of Chinese art, assembled in London in the 1950s and 60s, is one of the greatest remaining in private hands. The highlight is an exceptional group of blue and white porcelain from the 15th century. There are also fine Imperial jades and works of art from the Qianlong period.
• An Important and Rare Blue and White ‘Palace Bowl’ Mark and Period of Chenghua Diameter 15.4 cm Est. HK$50 – 70 million / US$6.4 – 9 million
Kangxi – History and Power
The sale includes two important Imperial seals from the Kangxi period: a massive tanxiang nanmu ‘jingtian qinmin’ seal and a superbly carved ‘yuanjian zhai’ soapstone seal; and a copy of the Kangxi Baosou, including impressions of these very seals from 1781, when the album was commissioned by his grandson, the Qianlong Emperor.
• A Highly Important Imperial Tanxiang Nanmu Seal Qing dynasty, Kangxi period 10.9 x 10.2 x 10.2 cm Est. HK$25 – 35 million / US$3.2 – 4.5 million
• Kangxi Baosou, a Complete Record of the Kangxi Emperor’s Seals Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period 27.7 x 13.4 cm, overall 27.7 x 565cm Est. HK$30 – 40 million / US$3.8 – 5.1 million
Emperors’ Playthings – A Connoisseur’s Collection
This outstanding collection of 30 jades, porcelains and works of art encapsulates the taste of the Qing court. Passionately acquired from international auctions over two decades, they are all superb examples within their individual categories, and are endowed with illustrious provenances including Yamanaka, J T Tai and Arthur Sackler.
• A pair of Imperial Albums by the Qianlong Emperor after Ni Zan, inset with Jade Discs Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period 13 x 10.9 cm Est. HK$15 – 20 million / US$1.9 – 2.6 million
Important Chinese Art
The highlight of the Important Chinese Art auction is an extremely rare Qianlong seal mark and period silver and gold-decorated double-gourd teadust vase from an important private collection, formerly in the collections of Edward T Chow and J M Hu.
• An Extremely Rare Silver and Gold-Decorated Double-Gourd Teadust Vase Seal Mark and Period of Qianlong Height 20.6 cm Est. HK$12 – 18 million / US$1.5 – 2.3 million
