Christie's Hong Kong will grandly hold its spring auctions of Classical Chinese Paintings and Chinese Modern and Contemporary Paintings at the Asia-Pacific Headquarters in The Henderson on April 30 and May 1. This season's sales bring together top-tier collections from around the world—let's take a first look at the many exceptional lots on offer.

 

April 30

Classical Chinese Paintings Auction

 

Selections from the Xiaotingfan Lou Collection

 

 

The Xiaotingfan Lou, originating from the Pan family of Tingfan Lou in Guangzhou, now brings to light paintings and calligraphy treasures that have been carefully stored for years. This season's auction is honored to present selections from the Xiaotingfan Lou Collection, featuring not only Wang Duo's calligraphy and a fan album of Ming-dynasty masters' small regular script, but also several fine fan paintings—we cordially invite you to take note. 

 

Ming Dynasty

Wang Duo (1592-1652)

Cursive Script "Re Shu Tie" and "Han Yan Tie"

Hanging scroll, ink on silk

170.5 x 53.5 cm.

Estimate: HK$4,000,000 - 6,000,000

Zheng Xiaru (1610-1673) Collector's seal: Zheng Xiaru's Seal of Calligraphy and Painting

Label seal: Treasured by the Xiaotingfan Lou Collection

Exhibition:

Hong Kong Museum of Art, "In Search of Excellence: The Min Chiu Society Silver Jubilee Exhibition," October 25, 1985 - January 15, 1986

 

Published:

"Selected Treasures of Chinese Art:Catalogue of the Min Chiu Society Silver Jubilee Exhibition," Urban Council of Hong Kong,1985, pp.154-155;Plate42

 

 

 

 

"Album of Collected Small Regular Script Fan Leaves by Ming Masters"

Ink on gold-flecked paper, album of eight leaves

Each leaf: approx. 16 x 46.5 cm.

Estimate: HK$ 3,000,000 - 5,000,000

Inscription by Wu Rongguang (1773-1843)

Title slip and collector's seals by Pan Baoyi (1853-1892)

Pan Zhengwei (1791-1850) and Other Collector's Seals

 

 

From the Collection of the Wang Jiqian Family

Following the success of Wu Li's "Tao Pu Song Ju Tu" from the Wang Jiqian family collection in the Autumn 2024 sales, this collection will also present several remarkable lots this season.

 

Ming Dynasty

Tang Yin (1470-1523)

"Towering Peaks Amidst Layered Pavilions"

Ink and color on silk, hanging scroll

64.2 x 32 cm.

Estimate: HK$ 8,000,000 - 12,000,000

Liu Shu (1759-1816), Wang Jiqian (1906-2003), Xiao Shoumin (20th century), and Other Collector's Seals

Literature:

Suzuki Kei, ed., "Comprehensive Catalogue of Chinese Paintings, Volume 1: United States and Canada," University of Tokyo Press, Tokyo, 1983, pp. I-332, I-470, plate A30-014;

Tian Hong, "Overseas Collectors of the Twentieth Century - Wang Jiqian's Collection of Famous Chinese Paintings Through the Ages," Volume 1, Tianjin People's Fine Arts Publishing House, Tianjin, November 2013, pp. 271, 579, plate 157

 

 

Ming Dynasty

Shen Zhou (1427-1509)

《梅雨送诗图》

水墨纸本 立轴

118 x 45.7 cm.

估价：港元 2,800,000 - 5,000,000

张鈇（16世纪）题跋，及文征明（1470-1559）题跋并钤有一印

邓实（1877-1951）、王季迁（1906-2003）及其他藏印

 展览： 

北京，光华路五号国际会展中心，“第二届北京中国文物艺术品国际博览会—古代书画展览”，2010年10月21-25Day

 

Bibliography:

Shen Zhou's "Opening Up with Guo Tianci's Rhyme" is found in *The Collected Works of Shen Zhou*, Shanghai, Shanghai Classics Publishing House,2013, June, p.6, p.634;

Wen Zhengming's "Matching the Rhyme in Reply to Shi Tian's Poem on Thoughts After Rain" is found in *The Collected Works of Wen Zhengming*, Shanghai, Shanghai Classics Publishing House,1987, p.160.

 

Publication: -----END-----

Tian Hong, *Chinese Famous Paintings from Overseas Collections in the 20th Century: Wang Jiqian's Collection*, Volume I, Tianjin People's Fine Arts Publishing House, Tianjin, November 2013, p. 244, Plate 141;世纪海外藏家-王季迁藏中国历代名画》上卷，天津人民美术出版社，天津，2013年11月，第244页，图版141；

Catalogue of the Second Beijing International Expo of Chinese Cultural Relics and Artworks – Exhibition of Ancient Paintings and Calligraphy, Guanghualu No. 5 International Convention Center, Beijing, pp. 46-47.

 

 

An Important Private Japanese Collection

Masterpieces of ancient painting and calligraphy from this important private Japanese collection will be presented in successive spring and autumn sales. The group includes several Ming and Qing works formerly in the collection of Luo Zhenyu, many bearing his inscriptions and colophons, which reflect his deep familiarity with the history of painting and calligraphy and his meticulous approach to connoisseurship.

 

Ming Dynasty

Wen Zhengming (1470-1559)

*Chrysanthemum Garden*

Handscroll, ink and color on paper

28 x 235 cm.

 Dated 1522

Estimate: HK$4,000,000 - 6,000,000

Inscribed with colophon and two seals by Wang Chong (1494-1533)

Inscribed with colophon and one seal by Luo Zhenyu (1866-1940)

 

Ming Dynasty

Wang Chong (1494-1533)

Running Script

Ink on paper, hand scroll

26.5 x 286 cm.

Dated 1527

Estimate: HK$1,000,000 - 2,000,000

 

Prominent Private Japanese Collection

This sale also features works from a prominent private Japanese collection, including Jin Nong's "Album of Landscapes after Eight Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties" and several other fine ancient paintings and calligraphy works worthy of attention.

Qing Dynasty

Jin Nong (1687-1763)

Album of Landscapes after Eight Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties

Color on gold paper, album of eight leaves

Each leaf: 19.5 x 13.8 cm.

Estimate: HK$2,000,000 - 3,000,000

 

Publication: 

Compiled by Morita Shiryu, *Bokubi *, no.256, Bokubi-sha, Kyoto,1975, pp. 32-33, plates34-40May 1

 

 

Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Paintings and Calligraphy Auction

The Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Paintings and Calligraphy Auction presents a selection of masterpieces by renowned artists, led by Zhang Daqian's monumental splashed-color work *A Boat Seeking the Peach Blossom Spring* from the 1980s, capturing a captivating moment of fusion between color and ink.

Zhang Daqian (1899-1983)

 

张大千（1899-1983）

A Skiff in Search of Peach Blossom Spring

Ink and color on paper, framed

109 x 54.5 cm.

 1981Dated

Estimate: HKD 10,000,000 - 15,000,000

Provenance:

Christie's Hong Kong, Fine Chinese Modern Paintings, 26-27 November 2012, Lot 1119;

Private Collection, Hong Kong

 

 

Following the remarkable results achieved by various private collections in the autumn 2024 sales, this season also features numerous masterpieces from important collections, including the private collection of Mr. Chen Jingzhao, owner of Baihonglou in Singapore; important Lin Fengmian works from the Van Rossbroeck Family Collection; the Huang Zhongfang Collection; the Lo Cheng Chuan Family Collection from Penang; the Fu Family Collection; the Qi Rushan Family Collection; and the Guo Family's Qinyanzhai Collection of Chinese paintings and calligraphy. The offerings are rich and diverse, and we invite you to appreciate them.

 

Private Collection of Mr. Chen Jingzhao, Owner of Baihonglou, Singapore

Huang Binhong (1864-1955)

Landscape

Ink and color on paper, hanging scroll

134.7 x 34 cm.

 Executed in 1952

Estimate: HK$ 2,200,000 - 3,500,000 

Literature:

Commemorative Catalogue of the Exhibition of Works by the Late Mr. Huang Binhong, Chinese Art Research Association and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts,1955June3,plate7;Michael Sullivan,

Art and Artists of Twentieth-Century China,University of California Press,世纪中国艺术》，加州大学出版社，1959, title page

 

Qi Baishi (1863-1957)

"Longevity"

Ink and color on paper, hanging scroll

90.3 x 46.3 cm.

Estimate: HK$ 1,000,000 - 2,000,000

 

Important Works by Lin Fengmian from the Van Rossum Broek Family Collection

 

Lin Fengmian (1900-1991)

"The Magic Lotus Lantern"

Ink and color on paper, framed

67 x 65.8 cm.

Estimate: HK$ 1,800,000 - 2,800,000

 

Chinese Paintings from the Wong Chung Fong Collection

 

Zhang Daqian (1899-1983)

"Canglong Ridge" (Canglong Ling)

Ink and color on paper, hanging scroll

141 x 74 cm.

 Dated 1965

Estimate: HKD 1,500,000 - 2,500,000

He Huaishuo (b. 1941) inscribed the label: Zhang Daqian, Canglong Ridge. Inscribed by He Huaishuo.

Publications:

"Masterpieces by Famous Artists," Issue No. 39, Special Edition on Zhang Daqian's Landscape Paintings, Han Mo Xuan Publishing, April 1993, p. 41

 

 

Auction Schedule

 

Fine Classical Chinese Paintings Auction | April 30

Fine Modern and Contemporary Chinese Paintings Auction | May 1

The Wong Chung Fong Collection of Chinese Paintings Online Auction | April 30 – May 14

Preview

Shanghai | April 1–3 | 4th Floor, No. 1 Zhongshan East Road, Shanghai

Beijing | April 6–7 | Jinbao Street, Beijing82号1层

Taipei | April 19 & 20 | 3F, Taipei Marriott Hotel, No. 199, Lequn 2nd Road, Taipei

Hong Kong | April 25 to April 30 | 6F, The Henderson, 2 Murray Road, Central

 

*Preview dates and venues are subject to change; please register in advance.