2022 in Review: Stellar Momentum for Chinese Art in Asia

A tremendously exciting year for Chinese art at Sotheby’s, led by the two prolific global sale series of the extraordinary personal collection of Sir Joseph Hotung and the Dr Wou Kiuan Collection respectively, sees Sotheby’s continue to be the market leader in Chinese Works of Art in Asia for the 13th consecutive year. 

Witnessing a growing collector base across the globe, the Chinese art departments are looking forward to more cross-category themed events, sales and collaborations. Chow comments, “We are truly honoured to have been entrusted with these masterpieces, and the strong interest and participation they received from a growing collector base – resulting in two new auction records – once again reaffirmed the global market’s unfaltering demand for the most exceptional porcelain and works of art.” 

Looking ahead as 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of Sotheby’s in Asia, Chow comments, “There has been a shift in the market’s focus towards works of art reflecting the most refined aesthetic sensibilities and tracing to the source of Chinese art. Masterpieces embodying technical sophistication and historical significance have proven to be increasingly sought-after amongst collectors and that highly-charged energy will continue to drive the market in 2023.” 

While there’s much to look forward to as 2023 promises a stellar year of carefully curated sales of masterpieces to celebrate this landmark anniversary, explore the year’s highlights in the slideshows below. In just Sotheby’s Asia this year, more than 2,000 lots were offered across Chinese Works of Art, Classical Chinese Paintings and Fine Chinese Paintings departments, with sales reaching HK$2.4 billion.

Single owner sales were among the stellar highlight sales of 2022 for Chinese Works of Art, led by HOTUNG | 何東 The Personal Collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung, which took place over four live sales and an online sale across Hong Kong and London. With a remarkable collection of Chinese art and furniture, as well as Western paintings and French silver among the extraordinary pieces offered, 475 lots sold brought a total of HK$931.6 million (£103.3 million), and a new world auction record set for a Chinese chair.

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  A highly important and exceptional imperial soapstone 'Qianlong yulan zhi bao' seal, Qing dynasty, the 'lion' finial, Kangxi - early Yongzheng period, the seal face, Qianlong period

  Sold: HK$153.3 million
  
  Spanning across three pinnacular reigns of the Qing dynasty, the seal is truly a tangible work of historical, artistic, and cultural importance. Masterfully carved with three mythical beasts as the finial surmounting the seal during the Kangxi – Yongzheng period, the seal was then selected by the Qianlong Emperor when he ascended the throne in 1735 to be carved with an impression reading Qianlong yulan zhi bao (‘Treasure admired by his majesty the Qianlong Emperor’) so as to archive the finest works in the imperial collection. The seal impression is arguably the single most recognisable one in the history of Chinese art.
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  A magnificent and possibly unique ruby-ground yangcai 'trigram' reticulated vase, Seal mark and period of Qianlong

  Sold: HK$177.5 million
  
  Also from the renowned Dr Wou Kiuan collection is this vase that demonstrates the unprecedented and unparalleled culmination of technical virtuosity in porcelain production between 1741 and 1743. It is also important in the history of porcelain production in China as it is corroborated by the court archives to have been made either in 1743 or immediately thereafter, fuelled by an imperial reprimand from the Qianlong Emperor.
  
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  The Personal Collection of the Late Sir Joseph Hotung

  Sold: HK$931.6 million | £103.3 million across 4 live sales and an online sale
  
  The highly anticipated global series kicked off with the Chinese art evening sale in Hong Kong in October. Amongst the masterpieces of the collection, the highlight of the sale was the extremely rare and outstanding late Ming dynasty folding armchair , distinguished by its purity of form showcased by its most powerful yet graceful silhouette. The impressive armchair sold for HK$124.6 million and established a world auction record for a huanghuali folding armchair, almost doubling that of the previous record.
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  An outstanding carved marble recumbent frog, Shang dynasty

  Sold: HK$28.8 million
  
  Ever so skillfully and minimistically carved around three millennia ago, the marble frog marks the dawn of Chinese sculpture and has truly stood the test of time in its timeless aesthetic. It is highly comparable to a well-known example in a private collection, which was described as a “pre-Anyang marble frog that would have delighted Brancusi”.
  
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  Chinese Art from the Sir Run Run Shaw Collection (Shaw Foundation Charity Auction)

  Sold: HK$22 million
  
  This was a charity online auction organised to benefit the Shaw Foundation Hong Kong, established in 1973 and dedicated to the development and global advancement of education, healthcare, scientific achievements and the arts. Everything was offered without reserve and the white-glove sale achieved 480% of the pre-sale low estimates.

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An unforgettable moment for the Chinese Classical Painting department this year was seeing a remarkable hanging scroll by court painting Leng Mei offered in the same sale as the Qianlong seal with which the Qianlong Emperor stamped the painting more than 200 years ago. Other highlights include the first instalment of Chinese paintings and calligraphies from the Yee-Ming Kuo Collection, which saw immense interest and fierce bidding, including for Letter to Yang Yiqing, a handscroll by Li Mengyang which saw 30 mins of bidding and sold for over 90 times its low estimate.

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  Leng Mei | Lofty Scholar admiring Prunus Blossoms

  Sold: HK$12.5 million
  
  A spectacular painting by a famous court painter, the hanging scroll features Emperor Qianlong’s colophon at the top and was recored in The Precious Collection of the Stone Canal Pavilion.
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  Li Mengyang (1472-1529) | Letter to Yang Yiqing

  Sold: HK$27.6 million
  
  The star lot of the single owner Yee-Ming Kui Collection of Chinese paintings and calligraphies, Letter to Yang Yiqing is an extremely rare to market handscroll demonstrating exquisitely high literati taste.
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  Anonymous (Song Dynasty) | Sutra

  Sold: HK$12.8 million 
  
  Appearing for the first time at auction, this important and rare Song Dynasty handscroll featuring four collectors’ seals soared to more than double its high estimate when it was sold in April 2022.
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  Qi Zhijia (17th century) | Li Bai’s Poems in Running Script

  Sold: HK$6.5 million
  
  An exceptionally rare eight-metre calligraphy handscroll by Qi Zhijia, a true and revered scholar, and his longest scroll. After a seven-minute bidding battle that saw more than 30 bids, the handscroll soared more than 13 times above its low estimate.
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  Jin Nong (1687 - 1763) | Ink Plum Blossom

  Sold: HK$5.3 million 
  
  Dating to the 21st year of the Qianlong reign, this painting is from the Jade Studio, and holds historical importance and strong provenance. It has been widely published and examined by influential scholars.

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The Fine Chinese Painting department went from strength to strength in 2022, offering works from various collections with impeccable provenances such as items from the late philanthropist Sir Run Run Shaw, Hong Kong textile pioneer Y.C. Wang’s collection of works by Zhang Daqian, and the collection of redologist Professor Kang and Jessica Chao. In April, the department set a new world record of Zhang Daqian, selling Landscape after Wang Ximeng for HK$370.5 million.

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  Zhang Daqian (Chang Dai-chien, 1899-1983) | Landscape after Wang Ximeng

  Sold: HK$370.5 million
  
  Zhang Daqian successfully invoked the voice of an ancient landscape master in his challenge against Song-dynasty legend Wang Ximeng. This blue-and-green masterpiece emerged at auction at Sotheby's Hong Kong and took the world record to new heights.
  
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  Qi Baishi | Flowers and Fruits

  Sold: HK$78.6 million
  
  This is the largest extant multi-panel work by Qi Baishi, the only comparable work being the set of four works in the collection of Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Depicting peaches, loquats and plantain lilies, pomegranates and plumed cockscombs and grapes, the work is a good omen and symbolises longevity, growing wealth, advancement in career, and lasting family prosperity.
  
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  Wu Guanzhong | Trees

  Sold: HK$13.7 million
  
  This work was painted in 1979 and is representative of the artist’s transition from oil painting to Chinese ink painting. Taking its form from Western painting and its spirit form Chinese painting, it is a testament to his journey in search of formal beauty and his ambition to inject new life into ink and wash painting.
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  Zhang Daqian | Quiet Autumn on a Sichuan River

  Sold: HK$36.7 million
  
  
  Painted amongst his final days in China, the work conveys immense nostalgia for his homeland and was one of the few works that the artist look with when he left China. It was inspired from the view of Jialing he saw on the airplane and thus painted from an unusual aerial perspective, depicting an expansive vista with a majestic sense of spatial depth and dimensionality.
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  Huang Binhong | Studio Amid Majestic Mountains

  Sold: HK$22.7 million
  
  This is a one-of-a-kind landscape masterpiece by the artist with monumental dimension, intricate composition, and powerful brush strokes. It is a commissioned work celebrating the 70th birthday of the esteemed book collector Mo Boji. Befitting of the celebratory nature, the paper used for the work was especially made during the 49th year of the Qianlong Emperor’s reign in honour of his birthday celebration.

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Sotheby’s End of Year Review