Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art

Contact

• Hong Kong

  • 

    Pola Antebi (安蓓蕾)

    Deputy Chairman, Asia Pacific, International Director & Head of Private Sales

    Pola Antebi (安蓓蕾)

    Deputy Chairman, Asia Pacific, International Director & Head of Private Sales

    pantebi@christies.com+852 2978 9950

    Drawing from over 30 years of professional experience, Pola Antebi is a global ambassador representing Christie’s in its operations around the world from her base in Hong Kong. As one of the most senior Chinese ceramics and works of art specialists in the firm, Pola regularly meets with prominent collectors, dealers and museum representatives in Asia, Europe and the United States to advise about her market, assist with curation of collections and to secure art works for sale both for auction and private sales.
    
    Pola began her career in the field in New York in the mid-1980’s. Her dedication to further the prominence of Chinese works of art brought her to Asia and she joined Christie’s Hong Kong in 1990. As part of a pioneering team, Pola quickly grew the department, and supported the expansion of Christie’s presence throughout Asia. By 1998 Pola was promoted to Head of department, a role she held for 14 years. During this period of unprecedented growth, she was instrumental in elevating the category globally; her department regularly shattered auction sale records. .
    
    Through her passion, commitment and engagement with notable academics, Pola has made substantial contribution both to Christie’s and to the study of imperial ceramics and works of art, with a personal emphasis on Chinese imperial ceramics, lacquer and jade carvings from the Song to Qing dynasties. .
    
    Pola is also passionate in sharing her knowledge and experience with the younger crop of Christie’s specialist; she actively supports the mentorship program and has initiated a learning and development specialists’ forum which she chairs.

  • 

    Chi Fan Tsang (曾志芬)

    Deputy Chairman, Asia Pacific International Director

    Chi Fan Tsang (曾志芬)

    Deputy Chairman, Asia Pacific International Director

    ctsang@christies.com+852 2978 9954

    Chi Fan Tsang is Deputy Chairman, Asia Pacific, and International Director of the Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Department based in Hong Kong. Chi Fan focuses on developing pipeline business in the category as well as advising on the curatorial direction of the auction sales. Hong Kong-born and UK-educated Chi Fan joined the Chinese department at Christie’s London in 1993. Chi Fan relocated to Christie’s Hong Kong in 1997 and began her career as a specialist assisting with cataloguing and curating a number of prestigious private collections. Her specialist knowledge includes early Ming and Qing dynasties ceramics, Chinese Buddhist art, scholars’ objects and jade carvings.
    
    As a bilingual speaker, Chi Fan has played a key role in Christie’s development of the Chinese art market across Greater China. Chi Fan’s specialist expertise, immense experience and deep understanding of the Asian market allowed her to assume a pivotal advisory role for both private and institutional mainland Chinese, Taiwanese and Southeast Asian collectors.
    
    Chi Fan holds a Masters degree in Chinese Art and Archeology from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. She is one of the principal founders of the Robert Chang Art Education Charitable Foundation and is one of its directors.
    
    曾志芬常駐香港，現任佳士得亞太區副主席，暨中國瓷器及藝術品部國際總監，主要負責業務拓展，以及就拍賣策劃提供指導建議，對推動有關部門於區內發展貢獻良多。她於香港出生，在英國接受教育，於1993年加入倫敦佳士得，1997年被委任為香港佳士得中國瓷器及藝術品專家，從事文物鑑定的工作，並協助策劃多個著名私人珍藏系列拍賣。曾志芬是明、清兩代瓷器、中國佛教藝術、文房珍玩及玉雕的專家。
    
    由於精通國語及英語，曾志芬在協助佳士得拓展大中華區中國藝術品市場方面，擔當重要角色；而其專業知識、豐富經驗及對亞洲市場的深刻認識，則贏得中國大陸、台灣及東南亞收藏家的衷心信賴。
    
    曾志芬擁有倫敦大學東方和非洲研究學院的中國藝術和考古學碩士學位。 她不僅是「張宗憲教育及藝術慈善基金會」的發起人之一，更是該基金會董事之一。

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    Marco Almeida (安偉達)

    SVP, Senior International Specialist, Head of Department

    Marco Almeida (安偉達)

    SVP, Senior International Specialist, Head of Department

    malmeida@christies.com+852 2978 6735

    DATE JOINED CHRISTIES: 2008
    
    BASED IN: Hong Kong
    
    AREAS OF SPECIALTY: International Specialist with knowledge of Ming and Qing ceramics, jade carvings from the Neolithic to the late Qing period and scholar's objects
    
    LANGUAGES SPOKEN: Fluent in English, Mandarin, Portugese, Spanish and Italian

  • 

    Ruben Lien (連懷恩)

    VP, Senior Specialist

    Ruben Lien (連懷恩)

    VP, Senior Specialist

    rlien@christies.com+852 2978 6735

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    Liang-Lin Chen (陳良玲)

    VP, Specialist Head of Sale

    Liang-Lin Chen (陳良玲)

    VP, Specialist Head of Sale

    lchen@christies.com+852 2978 6725

    Lin began her career at Christie’s Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art department in 2010, first in Hong Kong before joining the New York office. She holds a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Biology from Cornell University with minors in business and nutritional studies, and a Master degree in Arts of China from Christie’s Education, London. A native of Taipei, Taiwan, Lin is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and served as a docent at the National Palace Museum in Taipei.

  • 

    Sherese Tong (唐晞殷)

    AVP, Specialist

    Sherese Tong (唐晞殷)

    AVP, Specialist

    stong@christies.com+852 2978 6733

    Sherese Tong is Associate Specialist in the Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art Department, based in Hong Kong. Hong Kong-raised and US- and UK-educated, Sherese began her career at Christie’s in 2010, and joined the department in 2012. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from UCLA and a Master of Letters in Arts of China from Christie’s Education, University of Glasgow. Sherese is fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.

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    Timothy Lai (黎添銘)

    Associate Specialist

    Timothy Lai (黎添銘)

    Associate Specialist

    tlai@christies.com+852 2978 9943

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    Cecilia Zi (紫潮)

    Associate Specialist

    Cecilia Zi (紫潮)

    Associate Specialist

    czi@christies.com+852 2978 9958

  • 

    Audrey Lee (李仲妮)

    Associate Specialist

    Audrey Lee (李仲妮)

    Associate Specialist

    axlee@christies.com+852 297 89951

  • 

    Yunhan Sun (孫蘊涵)

    Junior Specialist

    Yunhan Sun (孫蘊涵)

    Junior Specialist

    yunhansun@christies.com+852 2978 6863

• New York

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    Tina Zonars (宋天娜)

    Deputy Chairman, Americas & Co-Chairman, Asian Art

    Tina Zonars (宋天娜)

    Deputy Chairman, Americas & Co-Chairman, Asian Art

    tzonars@christies.com+1 212 636 2180

    Tina Zonars, Deputy Chairman, Americas & Co-Chairman, Asian Art , joined Christie’s in 1983. She was a key figure in several record-breaking sales held at Christie’s, including The Collection of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth in 2015 and Important Chinese Art from the Fujita Museum in March 2017, which was the most successful auction of Asian art to date and realized a staggering $262,839,500. Prior to joining Christie’s, Ms. Zonars was awarded a studentship at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice, Italy. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Boston University and a master’s degree in Chinese art and archaeology at Columbia University.

  • 

    Michael Bass (孟博瀚)

    International Director, SVP

    Michael Bass (孟博瀚)

    International Director, SVP

    mbass@christies.com+1 212 636 2180

    Michael Bass joined Christie’s in July 2000 and has since worked closely on the sales of the Falk Collection, The Evelyn Annenberg Hall Collection, The J & J Collection of Important Chinese Snuff Bottles, and The Arthur M. Sackler Collections, among others. Mr. Bass is currently a Vice President and Co-Head of the Chinese Works of Art Department in New York. In this role he has overseen sales such as The Sze Yuan Tang Archaic Bronzes from the Anthony Hardy Collection and Magnificent Qing Monochrome Porcelains and Earlier Works of Art from the Gordon Collection, which achieved a world-record price for a Qing monochrome porcelain at US$7.9 million. Prior to joining Christie’s, Mr. Bass worked in the Department of Asian Art at the Arthur M. Sackler Museum of Art, Harvard University. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in the History of Art from the University of Florida and a Master’s Degree in Asian Art from the University of Kansas.

  • 

    Margaret Gristina (葛曼琪)

    Senior Specialist, VP, Head of Private Sales New York

    Margaret Gristina (葛曼琪)

    Senior Specialist, VP, Head of Private Sales New York

    mgristina@christies.com+1 212 636 2180

  • 

    Vicki Paloympis (潘薇琦)

    Vice President, Specialist, Head of Sale

    Vicki Paloympis (潘薇琦)

    Vice President, Specialist, Head of Sale

    asianartny@christies.com+1 212 636 2180

    Vicki Paloympis has been with Christie’s for ten years, and was instrumental in her work on landmark sales of Chinese Art including The Collection of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth, The Fujita Museum Collection, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection. At Christie’s, she travels globally to gain consignments for sale, researches and writes for auction catalogues, and appraises private collections. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Art from New York University and a Master’s Degree in the History of Art and Archaeology of East Asia with distinction from the School of Oriental and African Studies. She also holds a post-graduate diploma in Chinese Studies from The Johns Hopkins-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies in Nanjing, and is proficient in Mandarin Chinese and Greek.

  • 

    Michelle Cheng (鄭玉京)

    Senior Specialist, VP

    Michelle Cheng (鄭玉京)

    Senior Specialist, VP

    mcheng@christies.com+1 212 636 2180

    Michelle Cheng joined Christie’s based in New York in 2011 and specializes in Classical Chinese Furniture. She has lead several landmark sales including the Collection of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth, the Collection of Florence and Herbert Irving, and Masterpieces of Early Chinese Gold and Silver. She was a key member in landing several important Classical Chinese Furniture collections, including The Flacks Family Collection, The Marie Theresa Virata Collection, and the Raymond Hung Collection. Prior to joining Christies, she served as the gallery manager of the Chinese Porcelain Company for three years.
    
    She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of California, Los Angeles and Master’s degree in Art History from the Institute of Fine Art, New York University.

  • 

    Rufus Chen (陳嘉安)

    Associate Specialist

    Rufus Chen (陳嘉安)

    Associate Specialist

    asianartny@christies.com+1 212 636 2180

    Rufus Chen joined Christie’s New York in January 2016, and oversees all E-commerce sales for the department. In 2019, Mr. Chen led the online-only, record-breaking sale, Contemporary Clay: Yixing Pottery from the Irving Collection, the first online sale of contemporary Yixing ware held by an international auction house. He was also responsible for researching and cataloging the Yixing pottery from the collection of Eileen and I.M. Pei which was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong in 2019. Prior to joining Christie’s in 2016, Mr. Chen worked at another international auction house, artnet and iGavel auctions. He received a B.A. in Art History from Wheaton College and furthered his education in Asian art at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, and English.

  • 

    Lucy Yan (嚴若婉)

    Cataloguer

    Lucy Yan (嚴若婉)

    Cataloguer

    LucyYan@christies.com+1 212 636 2180

• London

  • 

    Kate Hunt

    Director, Head of Department

    Kate Hunt

    Director, Head of Department

    khunt@christies.com+44 (0) 20 7752 3389

    DATE JOINED CHRISTIE’S: February 2012
    
    BASED IN: London
    
    AREAS OF SPECIALTY: Chinese ceramics, works of art and textiles
    
    NOTABLE PREVIOUS PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Spink & Son Ltd, Chinese dealer; Asian art journalist

• Paris

  • 

    Tiphaine Nicoul

    Head of department

    Tiphaine Nicoul

    Head of department

    tnicoul@christies.com+33 (0)1 40 76 83 75

    Having graduated in History of Art and Museology from the Ecole du Louvre after a law degree, Tiphaine Nicoul joined Christie’s in 2003. Since then she has developed her department and the success of a number of sales which led to Paris becoming an international market place for Asian art.
    
    Thanks to her eighteen years of experience, she was involved in some of the most remarkable sales at Christie’s. In 2006, she achieved exceptional results with Le banquet de la victoire dans les jardins de l’Ouest by Zhang Tingyan and Zhan Kun (€6,000,000). In 2007, she was in charge of the sale of gift bronzes and Chinese enamels from Juan Jose Amezaga’s rare collection (€13,200,000). In 2012, after a bidding war over a unique Guanvin wood sculpture, she realised the highest auction total of the year in France, across all categories (€9,000,000).

  • 

    Zheng Ma

    Senior Specialist

    Zheng Ma

    Senior Specialist

    zma@christies.com+33 (0)1 40 76 83 67

    Zheng Ma joined the Asian Art department as a Chinese art Specialist at Christie’s Paris in 2013. Over the years, she contributed significantly to the success of the department by bringing in important consignments, including an 18th century handscroll attributed to Gu Quan, sold for €5.58 million in 2015, a Qianlong blue and white Penba ewer in 2016 (€421,500), an important imperial ivory seal from the Wanli period (€475,500), and a rock crystal deer from the personal collection of Coco Chanel, which sold for €162,500 in 2019. Speaking French, English and Chinese fluently, Zheng is also the main contact with Christie’s top Chinese clients in the Paris office.
    
    >>>
    Zheng Ma rejoignit le département d'Art d'Asie en tant que spécialiste en Art Chinois chez Christie's Paris en 2013. Au cours des années, elle contribue beaucoup au succès du département en rassemblant des consignations importantes, notamment une peinture chinoise en rouleau du XVIIIe siècle attribuée à Gu Quan, vendue à 5,58 millions d'euros en 2015, un pichet en porcelaine bleu et blanc de Penba de l'époque Qianlong en 2016 (421 500 €), un grand sceau impérial en ivoire de l'époque Wanli (475 500 €), et un cerf en cristal de roche de la collection privée de Coco Chanel vendu à 162 500€ en 2019. Parlant couramment français, anglais et chinois, Zheng est également le contact principal des importants clients chinois à Paris.

  • 

    Camille de Foresta

    Senior Specialist

    Camille de Foresta

    Senior Specialist

    cdeforesta@christies.com+33 (0) 1 40 76 86 05

    Appointed ‘Commissaire-priseur’ in 2010, Camille de Foresta started her career in an international auction house at the Valuations department, and later joined their Asian Art department.
    
    Camille joined Christie’s Paris in 2016 as Specialist in Asian art, with a focus on business-getting. Helping to establish records, she auctioned a gilt-bronze figure of Buddha from the Liao dynasty for €13.5M in 2016, the Lionel and Danielle Fournier of Himalayan Art in 2018 for a total of €3.5M and a Coromandel screen from the Kangxi period for €2.1M in 2019.
    
    In 2018, she organised the thematic sale Japonism, showing the influence of Japanese art on Western art in the late 19th/early 20th century mixing Japanese prints and works of art with Art nouveau jewellery, Gallé furniture, Nabis paintings, Art Deco lacquer, and more.
    
    Camille is also passionate for fashion and Haute Couture, and was in charge of the sale Rencontres Couture à Paris Collection Didier Ludot in 2015, Catherine Deneuve Yves Saint Laurent : De mode et d’amitié in 2019 and the worldwide record for an Haute Couture piece at auction: the Yves Saint Laurent Sunflowers jacket after Van Gogh sold in 2019 for €382,000.
    
    >>>
    "Nommée commissaire-priseur en 2010, Camille de Foresta rejoint Christie's Paris au département des Inventaires avant d'intégrer le département d'Art d'Asie. Elle contribue à l'établissement des records du département, notamment en vendant une statue de Boudha en bronze doré de la dynastie Liao pour 13,5 millions d'euros en 2016, la collection privée d'art himalayen de Lionel et Danielle Fournier en 2018 pour un total de 3,5 millions d'euros et un paravent Coromandel de l'époque Kangxi pour 2,1 millions d'euros en 2019.
    
    En 2018, elle organisea la vente thématique Japonisme, montrant l'influence de l'art japonais sur l'art occidental à la fin du XIXe siècle et au début du XXe siècle combinant les estampes japonaises et oeuvres d'art, avec des bijoux Art Nouveau, meuble de Gallé, peintures des Nabis, laque d'Art Déco, et autres.
    
    Camille est également passionnée de mode et de haute couture, et était en charge de la vente Rencontres Couture à Paris Collection Didier Ludot en 2015, Catherine Deneuve Yves Saint Laurent: De mode et d'amitié en 2019 et du record mondial pour une pièce haute couture dans une enchère: la veste Tournesol Yves Saint Laurent inspirée du tableau de Van Gogh vendue en 2019 pour 382 000€."

• Shanghai

  • 

    Harriet Yu (俞敏婕)

    Associate Specialist

    Harriet Yu (俞敏婕)

    Associate Specialist

    hyu@christies.com+86 21 2226 1527

• Beijing

  • 

    Dai Dai (戴岱)

    Associate Vice President, Senior Specialist

    Dai Dai (戴岱)

    Associate Vice President, Senior Specialist

    ddai@christies.com+86 10 8572 7922

  • 

    Felix Pei (裴朝輝)

    AVP, Senior Specialist

    Felix Pei (裴朝輝)

    AVP, Senior Specialist

    fpei@christies.com+86 10 8572 7958

• Taipei

  • 

    Ada Ong (翁曉惠)

    Senior Vice President, Managing Director

    Ada Ong (翁曉惠)

    Senior Vice President, Managing Director

    aong@christies.com+886 2 2736 3356

  • 

    Kelly Chang (張瑾)

    Client Service Officer

    Kelly Chang (張瑾)

    Client Service Officer

    kchang@christies.com+886 2 2736 3356

• San Francisco

  • 

    Andrew Lueck (李安哲)

    Specialist

    Andrew Lueck (李安哲)

    Specialist

    alueck@christies.com+1 415 609 7861

    Andrew M. Lueck has worked in the Asian art auction business for nearly two decades. He is a Specialist, Vice President, in the Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art at Christie’s based in the Bay Area of San Francisco. He works with West Coast collectors and institutions as well as others throughout the country and globe. He has been responsible for bringing to market notable fine Chinese works of art for sale in New York as well as Hong Kong and advises and works with some of the country’s top collectors and institutions. Among the highlights that he has brought to auction is the Larson Vase, the fine and exceedingly rare blue and white vase, the cover of the HK May 2019 Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Auction selling for $37,260,000 HKD. He also brought to sale in New York the single owner sale titled “The Studio of the Clear Garden.” He is a regular lecturer on the topic of Chinese and Asian art and has recently lectured at The Norton Museum of Art, Palm Beach, The Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena, Asia Week New York, and Asia Week San Francisco. Mr. Lueck is also a charity auctioneer and has greatly enjoyed raising support for a multitude of organizations which have included: The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, Asia Society of Southern California, The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, SFFILM, Levi Strauss Co., The San Francisco Art Institute, The International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society, and The Petaluma River Park Foundation. Before joining Christie’s in 2015 Lueck worked as a specialist at Bonham’s, San Francisco, and prior to that he founded the Asian Works of Art Department at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers (now Hindman Auctions), Chicago. Lueck holds a BA from Hope College, Holland, Michigan, and an MA with Merit from The University of Manchester (Sotheby’s Institute of Art).

• Tokyo

  • 

    Katsura Yamaguchi

    SVP, Managing Director/Rep Director & Int'l Director Asian Art

    Katsura Yamaguchi

    SVP, Managing Director/Rep Director & Int'l Director Asian Art

    kyamaguchi@christies.com+813 6267 1772

    As Senior Vice President and International Director of Christie’s Asian Art departments, Katsura Yamaguchi had been fundamental player in securing business deals and relationships in the Far East and New York. Mr. Yamaguchi has always had an important presence in Asia and was crucial in the growth of Christie’s offices in Tokyo, Japan. In addition to his business development role, as a former Senior Specialist of Japanese and Korean art he acts as a top-level client liaison worldwide.
    
    Mr. Yamaguchi has been instrumental in selling many important private collections. In 1998, he was responsible for the landmark sale of Ukiyo-e Paintings formerly belonging to the Azabu Museum of Art and Craft, which realized $4.9 million. Naturally Mr. Yamaguchi was also active in organizing other important sales, such as Japanese Modern and Contemporary paintings from the Itoman Collection that achieved in 2000, a staggering $7.9 million. In 2005 Mr. Yamaguchi notably handled the sale of Important Swords from the Museum of Japanese Sword Fittings that realized the groundbreaking result of $1.6 million. Additionally, for the remarkable recent business success of Mr. Yamaguchi, sold a very important seated statue of 12th century Dainichi Nyorai for $14,300,000 in March, 2008, that made a world record of Japanese antique art, and of the most expensive individual work in any Asian art sold in New York, now registered as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
    
    In March 2017, Mr, Yamaguchi also got historycal proprrty for "Important Chinese Art from Fujita Museum" sale that realized over $260M and became world auction record of any Asian art sales.
    
    Mr. Yamaguchi began his career at Christie’s in 1992 as a Graduate Trainee in London. He then moved to Tokyo, Japan as an Assistant Specialist for Japanese Paintings in 1994. He continued to move from strength to strength in that department rising to the position of Associate Director, Business Development in 1997 and Senior Specialist in 2000. In 2004 Mr. Yamaguchi assumed the responsibilities he had as Senior Vice President and was given the role of International Director in addition to that in 2007. Mr. Yamaguchi currently works in Tokyo office from July 2017 as SVP and International Director of Asian art.
    
    A native of Japan, he was educated at Gyosei Gakuen (L’Ecole de l’Etoile du Matin) High School. Mr. Yamaguchi then earned his B.A. at Rikkyo (St. Paul’s) University in Tokyo. He is currently guest professor for Kyoto University of Art and Design, a member of Japanese Art Society of America, Director for The Adachi Foundation and a Director for the International Ukiyo-e Society.

  • 

    Masahiko Kuze

    AVP,Asian Art

    Masahiko Kuze

    AVP,Asian Art

    mkuze@christies.com+81 3 6267 1787

• Jakarta

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    Charmie Hamami

    Deputy Chairman, Asia Pacific & Managing Director, Indonesia

    Charmie Hamami

    Deputy Chairman, Asia Pacific & Managing Director, Indonesia

    chamami@christies.com+62 21 7278 6268

    Charmie Hamami was appointed as Christie’s Deputy Chairman, Southeast Asia in June 2016. Ms. Hamami is responsible for all business and client development and the further strengthening of Christie’s presence and brand in the region, one of the fastest growing in Asia.
    
    In her role, Ms. Hamami is responsible for developing and nurturing client relations in Southeast Asia and providing local clients with easy access to not only Christie’s specialists and sales, but to the international art market. Ms. Hamami works closely with the firm’s top clients, advising on all aspects of both buying and consigning in Christie’s auctions around the world. She works closely with Christie’s international senior specialists in all major sale categories and also serves as the liaison for Christie’s institutional relationships in Indonesia.
    
    Ms. Hamami first joined Christie’s in 1999 where she worked in Client Services department, before taking up her current role. Ms. Hamami holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interior Architecture, and is certified in Diamond Essential from Gemological Institute of America. She is proficient in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Indonesia and Japanese.