Sotheby's Hong Kong - Spring Sales 2008 Sotheby’s Hong Kong is proud to announce that its Spring Sales 2008 will be held at the Grand Hall of the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre from 8th to 11th April 2008.
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precisely the time when he came to embrace Chagall’s friendship. Like many of his
contemporaries, Vu was fascinated by the sensuality of the female form – tapered waists, gentle
curves, delicate hands and exquisite swan-like necks. Five elegantly and colourfully-dressed ladies
with beautiful upswept hairstyles are seated together in a garden, whispering quietly to each other.
The current darling of the Contemporary Southeast Asian art
scene, Indonesian artist, I Nyoman Masriadi (1973–present)
will once again be a star attraction following his
overwhelming success in last season’s sale where his work
Jangan Tanya Saya Tanya Presiden (Don’t Ask Me, Ask The
President) sold for a record-breaking S$360,000/
HK$1,854,000 in Singapore. This season, Sotheby’s will be
presenting Jago Kandang (Home Champion). Estimated at HK$150,000-200,000, this
acrylic on canvas work was executed in 2007 and superficially depicts a moment in a football
game. Placed into the social and political context of Masriadi’s home country of Indonesia, it
however simultaneously conveys a deeper story as he captures both the spirit and psyche of
today’s society. The emotions that are demonstrated by the football fans in the background – on
the far right, anger; elsewhere, cheering supporters waving the national flag and banners carrying
the words “Indonesia” – are indicative of Masriadi’s cultural sensitivity and sharp humour.
CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART SALE
Sotheby’s Spring 2008 sales of Chinese ceramics and works of art promises to be the most
important sale of Chinese art to have ever been held, including 3 private collections and a theme
sale together which feature masterpieces spanning from Song, Yuan, Ming to Qing dynasties.
The sale offers over 200 lots, estimated to fetch in excess of HK$513 million.
(A) A Tradition of Elegance – The Leshantang Collection
The Leshantang collection formed over the last thirty years belongs to a great Shanghai tradition
of ceramic connoisseurship and it includes a number of pieces from some of the most celebrated
Shanghai collectors, such as E. T. Chow and J. T. Tai.
The highlight of this sale is the Magnificent Imperial Jun
Flowerpot from the J.T. Tai collection which is expected to fetch in
excess of HK$40 million. Such flowerpots, with their blue and
purple glazes of unrivalled beauty, have always been an integral part of
the Imperial Collection. The Leshantang flowerpot is a magnificent
example, of the largest size, with a lustrous and even blue glaze. While
Junyao flowerpots have traditionally been attributed to the Northern
Song period, recent archaeological finds in China would support an
early Ming dynasty date.
(B) Two Song Treasures from a Japanese Collection
For centuries, the arts of the Song dynasty have been held in high esteem in Japan, particularly in
the refined context of the tea ceremony. The two Song treasures from this Japanese collection – a
painting and a vase – capture the extreme aesthetic sophistication and taste of the period,
characterised by understatement.
An Outstanding Guan Mallet Vase ranks among the world’s
finest examples of Southern Song (1127-1279) official court ware
(guan)
