The Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong is delighted to announce a private preview of Sotheby’s Spring sale of Chinese works of art with Nicolas Chow. Nicolas will guide members through this season’s highlights including three Qianlong treasures that embody the emperor’s power.
For centuries, the dragon has been used in China to represent the authority of the emperor. The Spring sale includes a number of objects associated with the Qianlong emperor. The ‘Qianlong yubi’ seal is one of the largest and finest white jade seals extant in the world and was previously owned by Émile Guimet (1836-1918), the founder of the Musée Guimet in Paris. Another significant item is an important and rare imperial album in the form of a palm-sized booklet, and containing a portrait of Qianlong by the Jesuit artist, Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining), imperial writings, other court paintings, and impressions of antique seals. Another highlight is an outstanding and technically complex ‘dragon’ moon flask formerly in the collection of Irene and Earl Morse (1908-88).
Nicolas Chow is Chairman of Sotheby’s Asia and Worldwide Head and Chairman of the Chinese Works of Art Department, orchestrating auctions with a focus on ceramics and works of art from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Mr. Chow joined Sotheby’s in 1999 and has been responsible for leading the Chinese art market across the Asia Pacific region since 2003. In 2006/07 he took over global oversight for the Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art departments.
Registration starts at 9:45am. Members are reminded that as the preview takes place before the public are admitted, this event is strictly limited to current members only. A limited number of places are available, and pre-registration is required. Drop-ins will not be entertained. Members are further reminded that photography is not ordinarily permitted.