Naked ambition: Chinese billionaire Liu Yiqian’s purchase of Modigliani nude is the seventh artwork to cost him more than HK$100m

Amedeo Modigliani’s Reclining Nude is the latest addition to Liu Yiqian’s collection and the seventh artwork for which the Chinese billionaire has paid more than HK$100 million, according to media reports.

Before his successful US$170 million bid for the Italian modernist’s nude – said to be the second highest price ever paid at an art auction – Liu’s most expensive purchase was his 308 million yuan (HK$375 million) auction bid for The Pingantie (Safety Wish Script) by the 4th century Chinese calligrapher Wang Xizhi, in November, 2010.

The next big purchase was a 600-year-old imperial embroidered Tibetan tapestry from a Christie’s auction in November last year, which cost him HK$348 million.

Seven months before that, the now 52-year-old collector spent HK$281 million on a tiny porcelain cup bearing a humble chicken motif. He took a celebratory swig from it and the photo was wide circulated online thereafter. The man told the media he swiped his bank cards 24 times to complete the transaction.

In 2009, the high-profile collector spent 169 million yuan and 134 million yuan respectively for two ancient Chinese scroll paintings within two months, the former by Wu Bin of the Ming dynasty and the latter by Qing imperial court painter Xu Yang.

In April this year, Liu paid HK$114 million for a Song dynasty (960-1127AD) vase at an auction in Hong Kong.