HONG KONG.- It was a quarter of a century ago that the hammer first struck at China Guardian’s inaugural sale at The Great Wall Hotel Beijing, marking the beginning of art auction in China. The rest is history. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Company, the China Guardian Autumn Auctions 2018 will take place on 20 – 24 November at the Guardian Art Center, preceded by a public preview on 17 – 19 Nov at the Beijing International Hotel. Categories to be offered include Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy, 20th Century and Contemporary Art, Ceramics and Works of Art, Classical Furniture and Works of Art, Rare Books and Rubbing Books, Stamps and Covers, Coins, Banknotes, Jewellery and Watches.

Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy
A highly anticipated flagship sale at China Guardian, “Grand View: Chinese Paintings highlights – Modern” will be led by works by modern masters such as Qi Baishi, Huang Binhong, Fu Baoshi and Pan Tianshou. Pan Tianshou’s View from the Peak depicts a breath-taking Chinese landscape and is exemplary of his finger-ink paintings, while Fu Baoshi’s Inspired by Mao Tse-tung’s Lyrics is a romantic masterpiece created after Mao Tse-tung’s poem dedicated to his late wife Yang Kaihui and fellow revolutionary Liu Zhigou.

China Guardian will present Qi Baishi’s Flora and Fruits in four panels from the collection of renowned collector Mr Robert Chang, a long-time friend and client of the Company. Another highly anticipated work is Huang Binhong’s Landscapes, also in four panels. Considered one of the most iconic milestones in the artist’s oeuvre, the painting achieved the second highest price for a work by Huang Binhong when offered at auction at China Guardian in 2009.

Publication in the catalogue Shiqu Baoji has always been an attribute highly revered in the Classical Chinese paintings market. Qian Weicheng’s Autumn Landscape and Jiang Tingxi’s Peaches of Longevity from Heaven are two of such examples that shed light on the rarity and the taste for symbols of prosperity that characterise the imperial collection of the Qing court. Another highlight, Xu Wei’s Ink Peony and Rocks, was in the former collection of Chinese watercolour pioneer and art educator Guan Guangzhi and highly regarded by his contemporaries in Beijng.

20th Century and Contemporary Art
China Guardian has been entrusted by an important Asian private collector – the owner of the Hua Li Guan Collection - to offer 36 works in the sale titled “Selected Masterpieces from a Private Asian Collection”. Led by Sanyu’s Pink Rose in a White Vase, Zao Wou-ki’s 25.05.70 and Wu Guangzhong’s A Lacebark Pine of the Former Imperial Palaces, these works are of superb quality and provenance and have been preserved in the collection for over a decade. Other notable offerings of 20th Century and Contemporary Art include Wu Dayu’s widely published work Yellow Rhythm, Zhou Chunya’s Chinese Landscape, Zhao Bandi’s The Girl Peeling an Apple and more.

Ceramics and Works of Art
Considered the most important piece of Jun ware in auction history, this Sky Blue Jun Yao Flowerpot is the only example on the market bearing the “Jianfugong Ninghuitang Yong” mark added during the Qianlong period. It is also of illustrious provenance, having been preserved previously in the collections of C. T. Loo’s associate Frank Caro, as well as Eskenazi, celebrated English antique dealer, before being offered at China Guardian.

This Autumn China Guardian will present “Exquisiteness of Yongzheng – Selected Imperial Porcelain from the Collection of Baixuan Shuzhai”, which highlights three outstanding pieces from the Yongzheng period, including a bowl and a plate painted with flowers and insects, as well as a rare famille noire vase decorated with lotus scrolls.

Classical Furniture and Works of Art
The “Graceful Companions – Fine Classic Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties” sale will offer more than 60 lots encompassing chairs, stools, tables and desks, beds, cabinets and screens, among them properties fresh to the market. Among the highlights are a huanghuali recessed-leg table with everted flanges and a pair of huanghuali wasted stools.

An important part of the literati lifestyle, the Guqin is highly regarded both as a historical object and a musical instrument. “The Lore of Gu Qin: Important Collections from the Classic Society” will offer nine Guqins dating from the Song to the Qing dynasties.

Seal art and stone carvings this season will be offered in two sales, namely “Qingning – Modern and Contemporary Seal Art” and “The Heavenly Endowments – Selected Shoushan Stone Carvings from Hua Li Guan Collection”. The former highlights a Qingtian Stone Seal carved by Deng Shiru, which is outstanding in terms of both artistic merit and rarity among authentic works by Deng Shiru in the currently market. The latter will offer 41 lots, mostly Shoushan stone figures and seals, among them five rare figures sculpted by Yang Yuxuan.

Rare Books and Rubbing Books
China Guardian will present Li Dai Zhong Ding Yi Qi Kwan Shi Fa Tie edited by Xue Shanggong from the former collection of Huang Pilie. Re-emerging after being in obscurity for some 1.5 centuries, these legendary albums were allegedly lost in 1860 in the battle of Jiangning. Other highlights include 11 albums previously exhibited at the Palace Museum in 1996, as well as the Stone of Shi Qi Tie, both from the former collections of Ellsworth.

The “Letters and Manuscripts” sale will present manuscripts by Zhao Puchu, letters of late-Qing dynasty officials from the former collection of He Shi as well as properties from the former collection of Cao Kun, whereas the “Collected by Qi Gong” sale will offer 44 lots of calligraphy, manuscripts, annotated copies, stationary and desktop objects from the former collection of the late calligraphy, artist, educator and connoisseur.

Stamps and Covers, Coins and Banknotes
To be offered in five sales, Stamps and Covers, Coins and Banknotes this season is led by the famous “The Victory of Cultural Revolution” Unissued Stamp, one of the most iconic and collectible stamp in China and beyond. Of the best condition available in the market, this stamp is an extraordinary token of this unique period in history.

Presenting an inspiring group of works by Western artists, writers and scientists of various periods, the sale of “Autographs and Manuscripts” will highlight an autograph musical quotation of Beethoven’s King Stephen, Op. 117, dated and signed, created in celebration of the opening of the Hungarian State Opera, which is a remarkable souvenir from the golden period of Western Classical music.

Jewellery and Watches
China Guardian’s second “Important Jewels and Jadeite” sale will offer more than 200 lots catering to the various tastes of jewellery collectors. Highlights include super natural jadeite, investment-grade colourless and coloured diamonds, as well as highly coveted coloured gemstones such as rubies, sapphires and emeralds, among them no oil Colombian emeralds and unheated “pigeon’s blood” Burmese Rubies that are extremely rare and of great collecting value.