A head of Sotheby’s Hong Kong Fall Auctions series held this week on 3–9 October, guests were invited to a private view of the spectacular lineup of works which will go under the hammer this season. Held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, the evening was presented in partnership with American Express Centurion.
One of the main highlights of the evening and a centerpiece of the Fine Classical Chinese Paintings pre-sale exhibition was the unveiling of a monumental Qing dynasty scroll, seen in its entirety for the first time in almost a century. The Kangxi Emperor's Southern Inspection Tour was commissioned by the Kangxi Emperor in the late 17th century and depicts the journey taken by the Emperor across southern China.
Ever since its completion, this famous set of scrolls have been a source of wonder for many artists, collectors and connoisseurs, including them David Hockney. During the final years of the Qing dynasty, The Kangxi Emperor's Southern Inspection Tour, Scroll VI was removed from the imperial palace – only to be sliced into sections and dispersed. After having been separated, some sections believed to be lost, these component parts were assiduously tracked down by a collector who sought to reunite Scroll VI, and finally on 3 October exhibiting the complete work for the first time in over a century.
This masterpiece was displayed alongside one of the finest works by the renowned painter of horses during the Yuan dynasty – Five Drunken Princes Returning on Horseback by Ren Renfa – which will lead the Fine Classical Chinese Paintings Auction (8 October).
Sotheby’s specialists introduced works that are sure to attract great interest from potential bidders. Guests previewed Abstraktes Bild (649-2) by Gerhard Richter, which will lead the Contemporary Art Sales (6-7 October), along with a stellar line-up of international blue-chip artists such as Adrian Ghenie and Yayoi Kusama, alongside two prestigious collections from esteemed Asian connoisseurs: “The First Avant Garde: Masterworks from the Johnson Chang Collection” and “Art of Tomorrow: Works Sold to Benefit the Chu Foundation.”
The Modern and Contemporary Southeast Asian Art Sales Series (5-6 October) showcases important works by Indonesian masters, including Sudjana Kerton’s Indonesian Village Life and Handiwirman Saputra’s Akhir Pekan dan Projek Organik dari tak Berakar tak Berpucuk #3. Hailing from a distinguished European collection, three quintessential masterworks by Adrien Jean Le Mayeur de Merprès appear in the market after two decades. Led by the charming Two Women Dancing in the Garden, the group features luminous vignettes of Bali’s lush natural landscape inhabited by graceful dancers painted en plein air, celebrating the pinnacle of the Impressionist artist’s career.
For the Modern Art Auctions (5-6 October, Hong Kong), museum-class masterpieces by Sanyu and Wu Guanzhong will lead the sales – Sanyu’s Nu and Fleurs dans un pot bleu et blanc, as well as Wu Guanzhong’s Scenery of Northern China and Scenery of Guilin. This is the first time for museum-class masterpieces by these two artists to lead our Modern Art Evening Sale.
The works of Wu Guanzhong will also garner much interest in Fine Chinese Paintings Sale (8 October), which will feature important work from the Collection of Chu Teh-Chun. Other highlights include splashed landscape on silk by Zhang Daqian; Fresh to the market, Ancient Pine in Lush Mountainscape is a mesmerizing work is from the collection of internationally acclaimed actress Lisa Yan Lu.
Highlight of two carefully curated Chinese Works of Art Sales (9 October, Hong Kong) a superb silver-streaked Nogime Temmoku bowl from the Southern Song dynasty, a huanghuali six-post canopy bed from the Ming dynasty, an exquisite Yongzheng famille-rose 'peach' bowl, and a gilt-bronze figure of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara from the Song dynasty.
Guests previewed one of the earth’s rarest and most coveted wonders – a highly important 102.39-carat D Colour Flawless Oval Diamond. The diamond will be offered without reserve, meaning that, the winning bid is the highest bid, regardless of its amount or the intrinsic value of the diamond itself.
Sotheby’s Important Watches kicks off a new season of auctions led by two possibly unique references by Patek Philippe and Rolex, which is set to continue the record-breaking success last Spring which placed Sotheby’s as auction market leader for watches.
Exhibition Tour of Fall Auctions Series
From Saturday 3 October 3pm, join a tour through Sotheby's exhibition at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre with an introduction by Nathan Drahi, Director and Commercial Officer. Our esteemed specialists will highlight works across departments, including Modern and Contemporary Art, Chinese Paintings, Chinese Works of Art, Watches, and Jewelry.
