Going head to head with Sotheby’s Hong Kong, Beijing-based auction house Poly Auction Hong Kong is rolling out the big guns with top Chinese artists and designers headlining their own autumn series to be held from October 5- 7 at the Grand Hyatt, the same week Sotheby’s will be holding its fall sales in Hong Kong.
Ink painting is particularly well-represented this season and the sale series will kick off with the inaugural auction of Chinese contemporary ink works on the morning of October 5. More than 180 works will be presented in two sections: the “Contemporary Chinese Classical Ink Paintings” section features academic practitioners, including Huang Yongyu, and Zhou Sicong; meanwhile, “Chinese New Ink Paintings” will present 20th century masterpieces by the likes of Chu Teh-chun and contemporary painters Liu Guosong, and Gu Wenda. The highest estimate for a contemporary Chinese ink work goes to “Scholar’s Rock collected by Jian Songge” by Liu Dan, which was painted this year, and is estimated to sell between HK$1.5 — 2.5 million (US$193,500 - 322,600).
The auction of classical as well as modern Chinese paintings and calligraphy will follow on October 6, including works by Lingnan artists, as well as a hanging scroll by Xu Beihong. “Standing Horse in the Autumn Wind” is instantly recognizable as Xu’s signature horse depictions and is estimated to fetch HK$6 — 8 million.
A special sale will be held on October 6 to celebrate Poly Auction Hong Kong’s first anniversary. Titled “Chinese Art Important Sale,” it encompasses Chinese classical, modern, and contemporary art, ink painting, and calligraphy, as well as jewelry and watches in one sale. The event emphasizes Chinese creativity, as such, only Chinese artists and designers have been selected. A stunning necklace with a “double vase” (yingxiong ping) byWallace Chan will be presented. Dubbed “His Majesty’s Treasure” the double vase has an elephant on each side, embellished with diamonds, rubies, and tsavorite garnet. The necklace is made of lapis lazuli and diamonds mounted in titanium. The lot is estimated to fetch HK$1.2 - 2 million.
In the modern and contemporary art category, Poly is presenting a spread of the biggest Chinese names in the auction market, including Zao Wou-ki, Liu Ye, Chu Teh-chun, Lin Fengmian, Ding Yanyong, Wu Guangzhong, and Zhou Chunya.
The top lot is Zao’s “5.11.64,” an abstract expressionist work measuring 150 x 162 cm, which is estimated to fetch HK$22 -32 million (US$2.8 — 4.1 million). Meanwhile, Liu’s “Composition of Red, Yellow, and Blue” executed in 1997 is estimated to sell for HK$14 — 18 million. A work in oil, it depicts a man kept afloat by a balloon, with two other figures hidden in the background. This sale will take place on October 5 at 3pm.
Highlights from the jewelry and watches category, to be auctioned on October 6, include a 41.08 carat yellow diamond and diamond ring, the auction debut of a Patek Philippe ref. 5339R tourbillion minute repeating wristwatch, and an enamel table clock of Marie Amelie, Queen of France made from gold, pearl, and color stone (all estimates upon request).
Chinese ceramics and works of art will close the Poly Auction Hong Kong sale series on October 7. Watch out for a pair of robin’s egg-glazed garlic head-shaped vase estimated to fetch HK$12 — 18 million. The vase was part of the Sheng Xuanhuai Family Collection until the 1970s.
Poly Auction Hong Kong 2013 autumn auctions, October 5 to 7 at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, www.polyauction.com.hk
