Christie’s Autumn Auctions 2025: Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Featured in Hong Kong Asian Art Week

Hong Kong | October 30, 2025 | Live Auction
A collection of 26 rare Chinese art treasures from the Song to Qing dynasties
The total low valuation is close to HK$100 million

Preview
Beijing | September 16-17
Shanghai | September 20-21
Taipei | October 18-19
Hong Kong | October 23-29

Hong Kong – Christie’s, a leading global collector of prestigious collections, is pleased to announce the sale of “Emperor’s Imperial Writing Instruments from the Ailiantang Collection” on 30 October during Hong Kong Asian Art Week.The auction will feature 26 rare and precious works of art with a total low estimate of nearly HK$100 million.Highlights of the auction include pieces highlighting the emperor’s dual role as both a scholar and a monarch, with themes such as the Mandate of Heaven, orthodoxy, imitation of antiquity, literature, and Confucianism as key themes.This collection is considered one of the most representative Chinese art collections in recent decades.The collections include Song Dynasty porcelain, imperial porcelain treasures, Buddhist art and imperial crafts, which are diverse and rare, and each category of collections is a rare masterpiece in excellent condition.

Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty
Yangcai pink green teapot with imperial inscription "Three Qing Tea Poems"
Six-character seal script mark

Estimate: HK$30,000,000 – 40,000,000

The lead lot in the special auction is a Qing Dynasty Qianlong teapot with a yangcai powder-blue ground and an imperial inscription on the poem "Three Purities Tea" (pictured above). The belly of the pot features the poem "Three Purities Tea" inscribed in black ink, along with the Chinese characters "Gan" and "Long" in red. The shoulder is painted in enamel with motifs of plum blossoms, pine nuts, and a Buddha's hand. This teapot with the poem "Three Purities Tea" is the only known surviving example in the world. It is not only a precious literati collectible, but also symbolizes the spirit of governing the country and cultivating oneself.

Other notable lots include:

Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty
Powder green glaze carved ancient bronze pattern lei-style zun
Six-character seal script mark

Estimate: HK$18,000,000 – 25,000,000

This Qing Dynasty Qianlong powder-green glaze, carved bronze lei-style vase, is a prime example of Qianlong-era ceramic craftsmanship. Its simple and elegant form, lustrous glaze, and decorative patterns inspired by Western Zhou bronze vessels, demonstrate exquisite craftsmanship. This vase, a replica of an antique bronze porcelain, is a rare example of Qianlong-era artifacts, housed in prestigious collections such as the Bao Family Collection and the Wangxinglou Collection. This demonstrates its exceptional rarity and immense artistic value.

This Qianlong copper-based, painted enamel, octagonal Yan'an yellow-ground, foreign flower-themed inkstone is a masterpiece of exquisite craftsmanship, both elegant and substantial. It is considered the pinnacle of Qianlong-era craftsmanship. According to Qing palace archives, this exquisitely crafted inkstone was commissioned in November of the first year of the Qianlong reign and completed in December of the following year. The octagonal stacking box houses a Duan inkstone and a double-handled incense burner for charcoal, making it both a stationery item and a precious artifact. Its interior is glazed in turquoise green, while its white glaze base bears a central blue inscription in regular script, "Made in the Qianlong Period," a double-framed pattern. This highlights its historical value and its distinguished imperial origins.
 

Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty
Copper-based painted enamel eight-sided Yan'an yellow ground foreign flower inkstone
Blue material double frame "Made in the Qianlong Period" regular script mark

Estimate: HK$12,000,000 – 18,000,000

Late Qing Dynasty
A jadeite square tripod-shaped lidded censer with a taotie pattern, auspicious lion knobs and animal feet, and two handles

Estimate: HK$6,000,000 – 8,000,000

This late Qing Dynasty jadeite square tripod-style censer with a taotie motif, auspicious lion knobs, and animal-footed handles is modeled after an antique square tripod. Its pure emerald green color is vividly and meticulously carved with taotie motifs and a pair of auspicious lions, reflecting the connoisseurship of the late Qing dynasty and the exalted status of the imperial family. Jadeite rose in prominence during the Qianlong reign of the late Qing dynasty, and jadeite artifacts became extremely valuable and a symbol of imperial status, often depicted in paintings of Qing emperors and empresses. This censer was formerly in the collection of Baron Fujita, whose Chinese art collection largely originated from the collection of Prince Gong. This imperial treasure is one of the finest jadeite incense burners of its kind, rivaling the finest pieces found in legendary collections and auctions worldwide.

Other featured lots

  
Southern Song Dynasty
Official kiln octagonal sunflower-petal washbasin
Estimate: HK$5,000,000 – 8,000,000

Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty
Foreign-style imitation cloisonné lotus pattern three-legged stove

Rectangular six-character seal in seal script

Estimate: HK$6,000,000 – 8,000,000

As Christie’s new Asia Pacific headquarters, The Henderson, approaches its first anniversary, Christie’s will hold a three-month autumn series of auctions to celebrate the important milestones and fruitful achievements of the past year.

• September 2025: Art of the 20th and 21st centuries
• October 2025: Asian Art – Chinese Ceramics and Crafts, Chinese Painting and Calligraphy
• November 2025: Elegant Boutique – magnificent jewelry, exquisite watches, handbags and accessories, rare and fine wines

This season’s exciting auctions will once again demonstrate Christie’s leadership in sourcing extraordinary works and creating world-class experiences for collectors and art enthusiasts around the world.

Auction Public Preview
Beijing | September 16-17 | Hong Kong Jockey Club Beijing Clubhouse, 68 Jinbao Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Shanghai | September 20–21 | Christie’s Shanghai Art Space, 4th Floor, No. 1 Zhongshan East 1st Road, Shanghai
Taipei | October 18-19 | Taipei Marriott Hotel, 3F, Marriott Room, No. 199, Lequn 2nd Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City
Hong Kong | October 23–29 | Christie’s Asia Pacific Headquarters, 6/F, The Henderson, 2 Murray Road, Central
*Preview date and location are subject to change; please register in advance

Live Auction
Hong Kong | October 30 | Christie’s Asia Pacific Headquarters, 6/F, The Henderson, 2 Murray Road, Central

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