Tomorrow sees the opening of Sotheby's diverse Hong Kong Autumn Sales. Highlights from the collection have been showcased in travelling exhibitions across Asia over the past month, and a mesmerising exhibition of all the items on offer will be held at Hall 3 of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre's New Wing, from tomorrow until Thursday next week.
The venerable auction house specialises in eight collecting categories: Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art; Fine Chinese Paintings; 20th Century Chinese Art; Contemporary Asian Art; Modern and Contemporary Southeast Asian Paintings; Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite; Important Watches; and Wine. More than 3,400 lots are expected to fetch in excess of HK$2.7 billion during the six-day sales.
The Meiyintang Collection ranks among the finest private collections of Chinese ceramics in the world, and Sotheby's is offering some of its most iconic pieces. The selection harks back to the most celebrated periods in the history of the imperial kilns. More than 40 lots are on the block. One Ming dynasty item, a blue-and-white vase with fruit spray decoration, is estimated to bring HK$80 million to HK$120 million.
The Modern and Contemporary Southeast Asian Paintings sale takes place on Monday. A substantial collection of modern masterpieces will be on offer, among which a selection of more than 40 exceptional Vietnamese works of art is expected to draw attention.
'We have seen impressive signs of growth in this category over the years, as proven by our record sale in spring which affirmed Sotheby's leading position in the market,' says Mok Kim Chuan, the company's head of Southeast Asian paintings. 'This season, we present another fine selection of works. Iconic Vietnamese artists represented include Le Pho, Pham Hau and Mai Trung Thu. The sale offers creations by young talents Arturo Sanchez, Louie Cordero and Rolando Ventura, all embodiments of extraordinary passion and energy.'
Following the success of The Ullens Collection - The Nascence of Avant-Garde China - in April, Sotheby's announced the second instalment of this legendary Chinese art collection: The Ullens Collection - Experimentation and Evolution. Early works by artists including Zeng Fanzhi and Liu Ye remain a significant part of the sale, while this season's offering incorporates experimental works from the 1990s created by pioneers in conceptual, installation and sculptural art such as Chen Zhen and Sui Jianguo.