Christie's Hong Kong Celebrates 20 Years Of Success
Exhibition of Christie's Hong Kong 2006 Spring Auctions
Sir Stamford Room
Grand Hyatt Singapore
10-12 Scott Road
11 am - 7 pm
14th - 15th April 2006
Singapore
Click to watch video

Christie's Hong Kong, Asia's premier auctioneer, celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2006. To inaugurate this special milestone, Christie's Hong Kong will organise a series of activities including gala events, educational seminars and special viewings to inaugurate its 20th annivesary celebrations.

Singapore has been chosen as the first stop to showcase special viewings of the Spring sales of Asian Art, Jewellery and Watches to be held from May 28 to June 1 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre - the largest auction series ever to be staged in Asia. With over 2500 items for auction, the Spring Sale is expected to fetch in excess of HK$800 million.

The Singapore special viewing offered collectors and the general public an array of the best and rarest pieces across the board - from Asian art to jewellery and watches. Of particular note: a magnificent early Ming underglaze copper-red vase, Yuhuchunping, Hongwu period (1368-1398), expected to fetch in excess of HK$80 million in The Imperial sale; and Terrace affording a view of the sea with Pollok under an umbrella and several figures by Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur de Merprès (estimate: HK$8,000,000-10,000,000) in the Modern & Contemporary Southeast Asian Art sale.

A range of highly-coveted pieces in the sale are also first seen in the world's auction market, or even rarer in the sale are the offerings that are known as the only examples that exist in the world. For instance, the Important Watches sale will feature an extremely rare and unique Patek Philippe gold, enamel and diamond-set minute repeating perpetual-calendar moon-phase pocket watch (estimate: HK$1,200,000-2,000,000) which is the only one ever produced.

Mr. Edward Dolman, Chief Executive Officer of Christie’s International, said: “Over the last two decades we have witnessed one of the most exciting periods in the 240-year history of the Christie’s group. Nowhere has this growth been more significant than in Asia. The increasing number of clients in the region has underpinned the continued development of the market. Historically, Christie’s had the vision to develop the art market in Asia with a clear focus on exceptional expertise and excellent services. We are very proud to have played a pivotal role in the evolution of the auction market in Asia.”

“This region will continue to be a prime growth area within the global art business and continues to offer opportunities to both buyers and to sellers. In the years ahead, we will endeavour to foster our long-term commitment by further expanding our markets and investment in the region. We believe that Christie’s Hong Kong will continue to set key benchmarks and consolidate its leading role.”

2006 SPRING SALES
In conjunction with the 20th anniversary, Christie’s will stage the biannual Asian Art, Jewellery and Watches sales. This year’s Spring sales (May 28 - June 1) mark the first time that Christie’s Hong Kong expands its sales period to five days, the largest auction series ever to be staged in Asia. Sales highlights include:

1. The Imperial Sale – May 30
   A magnificent early Ming underglaze copper-red vase, Yuhuchunping
   Hongwu period (1368-1398)
   Estimate on request
2. Fine Classical Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy sale – May 29
   Wang Meng (1308-1385)
   Brewing Tea
   hanging scroll, ink and colour on paper
   Estimate: HK$6,000,000-8,000,000/US$774,200-1,032,200
3. Fine Modern & Contemporary Chinese Paintings sale – May 29
   Zhang Daqian (1899-1983)
   Tibetian girl and Mastiff
   hanging scroll, ink and colour on paper
   Estimate: HK$1,500,000-2,000,000/US$193,500-258,100
4. 20th Century Chinese Art sale – May 28
   Chu Teh-Chun (Zhu Dequn, born in 1920)
   Village de pluie rouge, Maison de nuage blanc No. 53
   oil on canvas
   Estimate: HK$4,000,000-6,000,000/US$512,800-769,200
5. Asian Contemporary Art sale – May 28
   Cai Guo Qiang (born in 1957)
   Drawing for Man, Eagle and Eye in the Sky: Eagles Watching Man-Kite
   gunpowder drawing on paper, backed on 6 wood panels
   Estimate: HK$2,000,000-3,000,000/US$256,400-384,600
6. Modern & Contemporary Southeast Asian Art sale – May 28
   Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur de Merprès (Belgium, 1880-1958)
   Terrace affording a view of the sea with Pollok under an umbrella and several figures
   oil on canvas
   Estimate: HK$8,000,000-10,000,000/US$1,025,600-1,282,000
7. Magnificent Jewellery & Jadeite Jewellery sale – June 1
   A 13.53 carat pear-shaped 'Golconda' diamond ring, D colour, internally flawless
   Estimate: HK$7,500,000-9,500,000/US$950,000-1,200,000
8. Important Watches sale – May 31
   Patek Philippe. A very rare and important rectangular tourbillon wristwatch with 10-day power reserve, ref. 5101P
   Estimate: HK$2,000,000-2,400,000/US$250,000-300,000

VENTURES IN ASIA
Christie’s pro-active endeavours in Asia date back to the 1970s. Foreseeing the enormous potential of the emerging auction market in the region, offices were established in major cities including Tokyo (1973), Hong Kong (1985), Taipei (1991), Singapore (1992), Seoul (1995) and Bangkok (1999). In 1994, Christie's became the first international auction house to open an office in mainland China by inaugurating the representative office in Shanghai. Christie’s network in Asia was further expanded with the appointment of representatives in Beijing (1996), Jakarta (1996) and Kuala Lumpur (1997). Christie’s representative office in Mumbai was re-launched in September 2005 as the company became the only international auction house with a full-time representative based in India.

In May 2005, Christie’s Hong Kong moved the pre-sale exhibition and saleroom to the world-renowned Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, another milestone in auction history. The new viewing space was four times larger, and exceptional works were shown to their best advantage in a setting tailor-made for Christie’s. This ground-breaking move has since been highly acclaimed by the industry and clients worldwide.

Christie’s is also the first foreign auctioneer to license its brand to domestic auction businesses in mainland China. Through an innovative licensing arrangement with Forever International Auction Company Ltd., Christie’s first branded sale in Beijing was held on 3 November, 2005. The sale, conducted in Mandarin, realized a total of over US$12.1 million.

Photos by Christopher Lim. All rights reserved.