In celebration of Sotheby’s 50th anniversary in Asia, Mei Yun Tang will once again offer masterpieces from its collection of paintings by one of the best-known and most prolific Chinese artists of the 20th century – Chang Dai-chien, after a decade since the last auction of its kind in 2013. Assembled by the late Mr and Mrs Kao Ling-mei over the course of half a century, the collection was internationally recognized as one of the most comprehensive privately owned Chang Dai-chien paintings collections of all times. This collection will be featured at Sotheby's in December 2023.
Post Sale Report: The Mei Yun Tang Collection of Paintings by Chang Dai-chien
Landmark Auction History
May 2011
The Mei Yun Tang Collection of Paintings by Chang Dai-chien
In May 2011, Sotheby’s Hong Kong held the monumental sale of The Mei Yun Tang Collection of Paintings by Chang Dai-chien, featuring 25 prominent paintings from this prestigious collection. They are masterpieces from the 1940s to the 1960s comprising different subject matters and styles, ranging from the traditional styles of fine brush paintings in Chang’s early years to the bold splashed ink and colour in his later oeuvre. The 25-lot sale commanded a stunning total of HK$680,740,000 in an hour, making it a triumphant white glove sale. The star of the sale was Lotus and Mandarin Ducks, which made HK$191,060,000 and smashed the record for the artist. It still stands as the most valuable elaborated flower-and-bird painting by the artist ever sold in auction.
sold for HK191,060,000
A record for the artist at auction in 2011
standing record for the artist's flower-and-bird painting executed in elaborate style
sold for HK74,580,000
close to 5 times the estimate
May 2013
The Mei Yun Tang Collection of Paintings by Chang Dai-chien – A Master’s Secrets Unveiled
Following the record-breaking sale in May 2011, Sotheby’s Hong Kong was once again entrusted by the Mei Yun Tang Collection to offer 25 works by Chang Dai-chien in May 2013. Titled ‘A Master’s Secrets Unveiled’, the sale was centered on works especially created for the seminal publication – Chinese Paintings with the Original paintings and Discourses on Chinese Art by Professor Chang Dai-chien published in 1961. The sale commanded a stunning total of over HK$330 million with 21 out of 25 lots sold above high estimates.
sold for HK$ 74,040,000
4 times the estimate
sold for HK$ 71,800,000