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The China Guardian 2008 Spring Auction will held from April 24th to 29th in Shangri-La's Kerry Centre Hotel, Beijing. This spring auction will include nearly 5800 exquisite items in several categories, including classical Chinese calligraphy and painting, Chinese oil paintings and sculptures, Chinese photographic arts, porcelain and works of art, ancient books, postal items and coins, as well as bronze mirrors, etc. Some items will be exhibited in a preview tour destined for Hong Kong and Shanghai, with special lectures also to be given in Shanghai and Shanxi. The Hong Kong preview exhibition will be held from April 5th to 8th in the Renaissance Harbor View Hotel, Hong Kong, and the Shanghai preview exhibition from April 12th to 13th in the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Shanghai. The Beijing preview exhibition will be from April 24th to 26th in the Shangri-La Kerry Centre Hotel, Beijing. The auction starts on April 27th and ends on April 29th. Madame Wang Yannan, CEO and director of China Guardian International Auction Co., Ltd., is quoted as saying, "This is the 15th anniversary of China Guardian and this year we have made meticulous preparations for the spring auction by continuing to only select outstanding artworks for auction, and focusing on the artistic value while also attaching importance to the collection value. Owing to our rapid growth over these 15 years to people from all walks of life, we at China Guardian will offer our clients an extraordinary feast of collection works in this spring auction with ever improving and more professional services."
Apart from the outstanding lots in each of the various categories, China Guardian Spring Auction will be highlighted with many dedicated sales sessions that will include individual styles and have many surprises in store. Collectors will definitely be attracted to such dedicated sales sessions as:"the Hufengyi Collection of Painting and Calligraphy", "Ancient Chinese Painting and Calligraphy from the Wuguishanfang Collection" and another 6 dedicated sessions in the category of Chinese calligraphy and painting; the "Modern and Contemporary Ceramic Art","Modern and Contemporary Sculpture Art","Returning Treasures ?Choice Works of Qing Dynasty Porcelain","Elegant Gathering from a Prosperous Era -Qing Dynasty Imerpial Zitan Furniture", and "Porcelain, Jade and Works of Art" in the category of porcelain and works of art; "Collection of Ma Dingxiang (I) and (II)" in the category of post items and coins; and "China Oil Painting and Sculpture (I) and (II)" in the category of oil painting and sculpture.
Chinese Calligraphy and Painting: A Bright Cluster of Stars
In this auction session, there are 8 major dedicated sessions in the category of Chinese calligraphy and painting, offering more than 900 masterpieces. China Guardian has been attracting wide attention in the industry with its Chinese calligraphy and painting sales as well as in modern and contemporary calligraphy and painting. While selecting items for this auction, China Guardian paid great attention to the artistic value of auction items by focusing on the traditions of art history while also attaching importance to the collection value of the lots. For the first time China Guardian will present five full private collection sales dedicated to five collectors from home and abroad, each with their fair share of bright star lots.
Altogether there are more than 260 auction lots in the five private collection sessions, including many masterpieces. For instance, the Image of Eight Immortals by Zhong Qinli will be auctioned in the dedicated sale, the "Wuguishanfang Collection".Created in the early period of the Ming dynasty, this piece is rare for its clarity of picture surface. Moreover, it has inscriptions by over 30 well-known contemporary artists and connoisseurs who were invited to do so by Mr. Ou Chu, the owner of Wuguishanfang. Many of these artists and connoisseurs have passed away. making this Image of Eight Immortals even more valuable through historical significance. Secondly, as one of the most important artworks by Huang Zhou from 1970s, Moving Grain will appear in the dedicated session entitled "Treasures from the Huaishilou Collection".This piece is a signature work of Mr. Huang Zhou's style, known for its grand scenes and full atmosphere. It also bears an inscription by the artist, adding a high collection value to the piece. The dedicated session entitled "Ming and Qing Dynasty Painting from the Erzhixuan Collection" features masterpieces created by famous artists from the Ming and Qing dynasties. In particular, one masterpiece is the Image of Lady Gongsun Practicing Sword Skills. Created by Chen Laolian in his prime, this piece has unique ideas and detailed texture. As a collection item of the famous modern collector Hu Huichun, it has been kept in good condition. The hosts of the dedicated session entitled "Hufengyi Collection of Calligraphy and Painting" are two celebrities in the cultural community, Huang Miaozi and Yu Feng. They are a famous couple in the literary arena, known for their similar interests and deep love for each other. You can find humor, talent, charm and wisdom everywhere in collections of their calligraphy and writings. The last dedicated session, entitled "Modern Chinese Painting from the Haitang Society", features the artworks by Qi Baishi, Zhang Daqian, Yu Feichang and Li Keran.
Ferrying Cranes by Yun Shouping, is a star lot of the dedicated session entitled "Ancient Chinese Calligraphy and Painting", and is characterized by the Tang Yin-style techniques. But it's filled with the Southern style and a literary taste of quietness tenderness, with unique and highly skilled brushwork. It is also mentioned in the Sequel to Stone Moat Treasures Collection and Revised Catalogue of Calligraphy and Painting Collections in the Palace Museum from the Qing Dynasty, making this piece one of the focal points of this spring auction. The Image of Chrysanthemums In a Vase by Bada Shanren is one of his signature artworks from his later years, and was created after he turned 69 years old. It appeals to people with its simple and refreshing beauty. Published over a dozen times, it is an import piece for research on Bada Shanren's art and life in his later years.
Apart from these pieces, the Ming Dynasty Emperor's Auspicious Trip to Sichuan in the dedicated session entitled "Contemporary Chinese Calligraphy and Painting" is deemed as an example of flexibly combining expressive ambiguity and firmness as well as likeness and unlikeness. With detailed and highly skilled strokes, it is known for its deepness and inner beauty, making it a masterpiece to can stand the test of time. These pieces will all appear in this spring auction. Collectors are bound to be amazed at the multitude of star works in these dedicated sessions.
Porcelain and Jade Ware: Multiple Highlights
In the sales of porcelain and works of art in this China Guardian spring auction there are 5 major dedicated sessions: "Returning Treasures-Choice Works of Qing Dynasty Porcelain","The Chinese Jade Collection of Mr. B.T. Yang","An Elegant Gathering from a Prosperous Era -Qing Dynasty Imperial Zitan Furniture", "Treasures from the Scholar's Studio", and "Porcelain, Jade and Works of Art", with over 400 items up for auction. The five sessions all offer excellent items, each with their distinctive features. The porcelain ware from the Qing dynasty places a spotlight on the still-popular works made by government kilns. They are all of highest quality and can be considered no less than masterpieces. The furniture session l marks the first time that a collection of zitan furniture from the Qing royalty has been put up for auction. They are all outstanding and rare works in the Yuanmingyuan Palace style. Lastly, in terms of jade ware, this sale includes the collection of a Taiwanese collector.
In the dedicated session entitled "Returning Treasures ?Choice Works of Qing Dynasty Porcelain",the under-glazed red gourd-shaped bottle with dragon patterns is a classic work of under-glaze red porcelain wares from the Qianlong period of the Qing dynasty. As it is extremely difficult to produce under-glazed red porcelain ware the output of such works was very low, with those works of bright color being extremely rare. The under-glazed red gourd-shaped bottle with dragon patterns up for auction in this sale has bright colors and a very standard form, giving a perfect portrayal of the charms of the under-glazed red porcelain ware made in the Qianlong period. In the dedicated session entitled "Porcelain, Jade and Works of Art",China Guardian offers a particular surprise for collectors ?an octagonal jade bottle made by government kilns in the Southern Song Dynasty. Items made by government kilns in the Southern Song Dynasty are treasures that are nearly only seen in museums. These works combined northern art and southern skills, marking a peak in the history of celadon porcelain in China. In the dedicated session entitled "An Elegant Gathering from a Prosperous Era -Qing Dynasty Imperial Zitan Furniture", a zitan passionflower-sculptured flat desk from the Qianlong period of the Qing dynasty is a particularly rare item, and is among one of the few rosewood desks of 250cm passed down till now. This desk has the standard head-lock tenon structure. On the edges and baffle plates are passionflower-shaped relief sculptures or openwork carvings, with plump flower shapes and smooth leaf and trunk patterns. It is a typical piece of royal furniture in the Cantonese style with western ornaments. At present, only Beijing Diaoyutai State Guesthouse has a rosewood desk of this type in its collection, and it is exactly the same as the piece we offer this time in appearance design, material use, sculptural style and craftsmanship. Undoubtedly, they were designed and made side by side. We are certain that collectors won't be disappointed by such an offering.
Dazzling Contemporary and Modern Ceramics and Sculptures
For the first time China Guardian has arranged two special sessions for "Modern and Contemporary Ceramic Arts" and "Modern and Contemporary Sculpture Arts" this spring where a selection of art works combining traditional and modern characteristics are to be shown. As conventional collection philosophy in China values ancient works rather than modern ones, domestic auctions over ten years have been heavily weighted towards imperial kiln porcelains, works of art, Chinese paintings and calligraphy and early oil paintings. With collectors and investors becoming more mature and with modern Chinese art performing better and better on the international auction market, modern and contemporary art is becoming increasingly popular among collectors and investors. The purpose of China Guardian presenting these two auctions is to show its attitude towards collection?of favoring both the old and the new. 80 items will be found in this ceramics auction and they are produced by more than 60 outstanding artists including college professors and professional artists from Jingdezhen, Yixing, Longquan, Shiwan and Dehua and masters of national level such as Shi Yuren, Zhou Guozhen, Qin Xilin, Wang Xiliang and Li Jin. Porcelains from Jingdezhen, Liling enamel glaze works and Zisha purple clay wares are all wonderful in both shape and soul. The sculptures auction will present about 80 works from 60 or so artists of splendid achievements, and will certainly be an eye-catching sale. Items to be auctioned that are made of either bamboo, wood, ivory, jade or stone include forms of flowers and leaves, birds and beasts, mountains and waters, portraits and the works of artists such as Xu Bingfang, a famous bamboo carver.
As the modern arts emerge as a new market for collectors, such porcelains and sculptures as are introduced by China Guardian for auction sale will undoubtedly bring positive influences to the contemporary and modern art market.
Chinese Oil Painting and Sculpture Auction: A Grand Opening
The spring auction sales in this department include Chinese Oil Painting and Sculpture (I), Chinese Oil Painting and Sculpture (II), and Chinese Photography, and includes many heavily influential artworks as a feast of collectors from all over the world. The Chinese Oil Painting and Sculpture auctions have collected and selected works of art with excellent quality, especially several important works of large scale and early production from artists with a sense of historical depth and great potential value. The auction of Chinese Photography has selected representative works by artists of great and professional artistic value that will provide a lifetime opportunity for collectors.
Breeding Ground from Liu Xiaodong's Three Gorges Series, is one of the most important works marking the artist's phase of large scale production. It shows a perfect combination of unique artistic expression and serious realistic criticism, and should be an exciting piece for collectors to contend for. Wang Huaiqing is one of the hottest news figures in art now, and his works of art have been included in many large collections from home and abroad. In 2007, his work, Even Metal and Stone are Moved was sold in auction at a record price of 21.1 million Yuan. This time, his Homeless Furniture (a series of four), finished in 2001, will be put on auction. The work is a clear epitome of the souls of Chinese painting, calligraphy, architecture and folk art, and combines various oriental tastes together. It will likely be a hotly contested lot of the auction. Furthermore, China Guardian Auctions has selected classic works by Chen Yifei's from various periods, with themes of music, beautiful women, and Tibet, namely Duet, House of Maid in Spring, and Tibetans. These works will display the whole artistic range of the late artist, and will surely suit the needs and taste of collectors of different types of art. As one of the most outstanding contemporary Chinese artists, Zhang Xiaogang has attracted the eyes of artists, brokers, investors and lovers of art with his artistic creations. His Childhood of the Big Family Series is up for auction here/ It was completed in 1998, and is a special work as it shows a photo of a child rather than a simple picture of all family members. Polar Areas by Wang Guangyi, and other early works of Liu Wei and Yang Shaobin are also worth special notice.
The Chinese photographic auction market has been developing quickly in recent years. Photography as an art has attracted more and more attention while noticeable growth in volume and prices at photographic auctions has become an emerging trend. In this China Guardian 2008 Spring Auctions, works of world famous photographers including Liu Zheng, Ma Gang, Miu Xiaochun and Zhang Dali are all available, among which Wisdom Disciplines by Ma Gang, Orbit by Miao Xiaochun and Demolish-the Forbidden City by Zhang Dali are valued as art of high quality.
Rare Edition of Ancient Books: Near Complete Collection
All the 108 pieces of rare edition ancient books in the upcoming auction are excellent in quality, among which, old-treasured collections from the Jiaye Library and the T'ien-Lu Lin-Lang Library will be worth the great attention of all bidders. The Jiaye Library is one of the most famous private libraries in the history of modern China, and its owner is famous as a professional collector of ancient books and block-printed ancient books. Editions of the Records of the Grand Historian, History of the Han Dynasty, The Book of the Later Han, and The Three Kingdom printed in Song Dynasty are all library treasures. The T'ien-Lu Lin-Lang Library once belonged to Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty and is known for its collections of precious editions of books from the Song Dynasty, Yuan Dynasty and Ming Dynasty. Most of the books of T'ien-Lu Lin-Lang Library were later kept in the Forbidden City, the National Library of China and the National Taiwan Library, while only a small part can be found among the collections of the people. It is a great opportunity for book collectors to have these rare collections available at auction.
Postal Items, Coins and Bronze Mirrors -An Auction Focal Point
Altogether there are nearly 4000 items of postal materials, coins and bronze mirrors available in six special auctions. For postage stamps, in addition to the culture-and-history-related "classic series" that have been favored by China Guardian, stamps that were made after 1949, solid market sellers, will also be found at auction, such as "one stamp for army use in 1953 with a face value of 800 (blue army postage)", "two full No.54 stamps of1958 commemorating the 5th World Student Representatives Conference".
Coins are also hot in the present market. The two-day auction of "Ma Dingxiang's Collection (I) and (II)", the first of this kind, is sure to put collectors in a frenzy. "Guangdong Shouziyiliang" is one of the most precious silver coins in the history of China mainland coin auctions, and will definitely be a highlight of the entire coin sales. A gold ingot weighing 50 Liang and made by the financial department of the Ming Dynasty in the reign of Jiajing Emperor, will be put up for auction for the first time. Besides the great value of the gold, it carries a lot of history as a cultural relic. The ingot is also refined in shape and craftsmanship with distinguished royal features through inscriptions. For bronze mirrors, the "Zhenzi Frost Inscribed Mirror" is a beautiful piece with embossed decoration, delicate and smooth phoenix carving, and rare round shape. It is certainly a high-quality work compared to similar kinds made in the Tang Dynasty.
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