First look: Highlights from Chinese Paintings
Christie’s Hong Kong will host their 2020 Chinese Paintings autumn auctions on 1st December. We have curated a selection of exquisite pieces for a sneak preview, which we will have on offer in our upcoming sale.
Christie’s Hong Kong will present its “Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Ink Paintings” auctions on 1 December and “Fine Chinese Classical Paintings and Calligraphy” on 2 December, 2020. Meticulously put together for art collectors and enthusiasts, the auctions will feature global collections and timeless masterpieces.
In The “Fine Chinese Classical Paintings and Calligraphy” auction, we are excited to present Shen Zhou and Wen Zhengming’s Landscape and Calligraphy, a Ming dynasty masterpiece previously from the Japanese collection of the Iida (Takashimaya) family. This season we are very pleased to present a selection of extraordinary calligraphy by the Ming and Qing masters Zhu Yunming, Xu Wei, Huang Daozhou, Wang Duo and Fu Shan, amongst others.
Previously in the IIDA family (Takashimaya) collection. Shen Zhou (1427-1509) / Wen Zhengming (1470-1559), Landscape and Calligraphy. Handscroll, ink and colour / ink on paper. Painting measures 29 x 193.5 cm. (11 ⅜ x 76 ⅛ in.). Calligraphy measures 28.7 x 154.5 cm. (11 ⅛ x 60 ⅞ in.). Estimate: HK$5,500,000 - 7,500,000. Offered in Fine Chinese Classical Paintings and Calligraphy on 2 December at Christie’s in Hong Kong.
Zhu Yunming (1460-1526), Biography of Mulberry Misletoe. Handscroll, ink on paper. 31.5 X 211 cm. (12 ⅜ x 83 ⅛ in.). Estimate: HK$ 10,000,000 - 15,000,000. Offered in Fine Chinese Classical Paintings and Calligraphy on 2 December at Christie’s in Hong Kong.
Property of a Japanese calligrapher. Wang Duo (1592-1652), Poem in Running-Cursive Script, 1633. Hanging scroll, ink on satin. 193.5 x 54.3 cm. (76 ⅛ x 21 ⅜ in.). Estimate: HK$3,000,000 - 5,000,000. Offered in Fine Chinese Classical Paintings and Calligraphy on 2 December at Christie’s in Hong Kong.
Property of an important Japanese private collector. Huang Daozhou (1585-1646), Five-Character Poem in Running-Cursive Script. Hanging scroll, ink on satin. 154 x 51.5 cm. (60 ⅝ x 20 ¼ in.). Estimate: HK$1,200,000 - 2,000,000. Offered in Fine Chinese Classical Paintings and Calligraphy on 2 December at Christie’s in Hong Kong.
Finally, the Fine Chinese Modern Paintings sale will begin on November 26th, and will showcase a beautiful 1977 Zhang Daqian splashed-colour painting, Retreat in the Bamboo Grove. This year’s auction also coincides with the centenary Wu Guanzhong’s birth and will present a special section of the artist’s works, including The Grand Canyon and Tsim Sha Tsui – both from a private collection in North America.
Property of an Asian private collection. Bada Shanren (1626-1705), Barren Tree and Birds, 1701. Hanging scroll, ink on paper. 127.5 x 43.2 cm. (50 ¼ x 17 in.). Estimate: HK$5,000,000 - 7,000,000. Offered in Fine Chinese Classical Paintings and Calligraphy on 2 December at Christie’s in Hong Kong.
Property of a Hong Kong collector. Lu Zhi (1496-1576), Sailing in Spring. Fan leaf, mounted and framed, ink and colour on gold paper. 16.5 x 50 cm. (6 ½ x 19 ⅝ in.). Estimate: HK$120,000 - 200,000. Offered in Fine Chinese Classical Paintings and Calligraphy on 2 December at Christie’s in Hong Kong.
Yun Shouping (1633-1690), Flowers and Fruits Album. Album of eight leaves, ink and colour on paper. Each leaf measures 25.3 x 32.8 cm. (10 x 12 ⅞ in.). Estimate: HK$3,000,000 - 5,000,000. Offered in Fine Chinese Classical Paintings and Calligraphy on 2 December at Christie’s in Hong Kong.
In “Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Ink Paintings”, we are honoured to present a collection from the family of Chen Lifu, many of which have accompanied Chen across continents and bore witness to his legendary life. The auction also brings together masterpieces by modern virtuosos such as Wu Guanzhong, Zhang Daqian and Fu Baoshi, not to mention contemporary ink pioneers Liu Kuo-sung, Li Huayi and Xu Bing to name a few.
Property from an important Southeast Asian collection. Wu Guanzhong (1919-2010), Quiet Lake and Boats. Scroll, mounted and framed, ink and colour on paper. 68 x 134 cm. (26 ¾ x 52 ¾ in.). Estimate: HK$ 15,000,000 - 20,000,000. Offered in Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Ink Paintings on 1 December at Christie’s in Hong Kong
From an important Asian private collection. Zhang Daqian (1899-1983), Two Scholars Amongst Pine and Clouds, 1978. Scroll, mounted and framed, ink on paper. 69.5 x 136.8 cm. (27 ⅜ x 53 ⅞ in.). Estimate: HK$10,000,000 - 12,000,000. Offered in Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Ink Paintings on 1 December at Christie’s in Hong Kong
Property from a distinguished Asian private collection. Zhang Daqian (1899-1983), Lady of the Tang Dynasty, 1951. Scroll, mounted and framed, ink and colour on paper. 81.5 x 45 cm. (32 ⅛ x 17 ¾ in.). Estimate: HK$ 6,000,000 - 8,000,000. Offered in Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Ink Paintings on 1 December at Christie’s in Hong Kong
Property from a distinguished Asian private collection. Fu Baoshi (1904-1965), Cascading Waterfalls. Scroll, mounted and framed, ink and colour on paper. 109 x 61.5 cm. (42 ⅞ x 24 ¼ in.). Estimate: HK$10,000,000- 15,000,000. Offered in Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Ink Paintings on 1 December at Christie’s in Hong Kong
Property from the family of Chen Lifu. Fu Baoshi (1904-1965), Returning Boat, 1944. Scroll, mounted and framed, ink and colour on paper. 61.2 x 49.7 cm (24 ⅛ x 19 ⅝ in.). Estimate: HK$1,200,000 - 1,800,000. Offered in Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Ink Paintings on 1 December at Christie’s in Hong Kong
Property from a private Hong Kong collection. Wu Changshuo (1844-1927), Album of Flowers, Vegetables and Objects, 1909. Album of twelve leaves, ink and colour on paper. Each leaf measures 37.3 x 40.3 cm. (14 ⅝ x 15 ⅞ in.). Estimate: HK$1,200,000 - 2,000,000. Offered in Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Ink Paintings on 1 December at Christie’s in Hong Kong
Lin Fengmian (1900-1991), Boats Moored on a Riverbank. Scroll, mounted on cardboard and framed, ink and colour on paper. 66 x 65.5 cm. (26 x 25 ¾ in.). Estimate: HK$900,000 - 1,800,000. Offered in Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Ink Paintings on 1 December at Christie’s in Hong Kong
Wu Guanzhong (1919-2010), Church in Paris, 1989. Scroll, mounted and framed, ink and colour on paper. 67.5 x 45 cm. (26 ⅝ x 17 ¾ in.). Estimate: HK$2,000,000 - 3,000,000. Offered in Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Ink Paintings on 1 December at Christie’s in Hong Kong
Chinese contemporary ink paintings from a distinguished North American collection. Liu Kuo-Sung (Liu Guosong, B. 1932), The Sun Changing Colours, 1971. Hanging scroll, ink and colour on paper. 185 x 46 cm (72 ⅞ x 18 ⅛ in.). Estimate: HK$700,000 - 900,000. Offered in Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Ink Paintings on 1 December at Christie’s in Hong Kong
Chinese contemporary ink paintings from a distinguished North American collection. Liu Kuo-Sung (Liu Guosong, B. 1932), Light Reveals from the East, 1972. Hanging scroll, ink and colour on paper. 183.5 x 46 cm. (72 ¼ x 18 ⅛ in.) Estimate: HK$700,000 - 900,000. Offered in Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Ink Paintings on 1 December at Christie’s in Hong Kong
From an important Hong Kong private collection. Li Huayi (B. 1948), Landscape (No. 9). Scroll, mounted and framed, ink and colour on paper. 132.5 × 64.5 cm. (52 ⅛ x 25 ⅜ in.). Estimate: HK$1,500,000 - 2,000,000. Offered in Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Ink Paintings on 1 December at Christie’s in Hong Kong.
From a private collection. Xu Bing (B. 1955), Landscript – The Drawing from the Project of Helsinki-Himalaya Exchange. A pair of scrolls, mounted and framed, ink on paper. Each scroll measures 99.5 x 174 cm. (39 ⅛ x 68 ½ in.). Estimate: HK$1,500,000 - 2,000,000. Offered in Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Ink Paintings on 1 December at Christie’s in Hong Kong.