HONG KONG.- Christie’s is delighted to announce the sale of Important Chinese Jades from the Personal Collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, to be held in Hong Kong on 28 November 2006 (Part I) and in Autumn 2007 (Part II). This exquisite collection garners some of the very best Imperial and magnificent Chinese jade carvings ever to appear on the market, and is the finest private collection of jades to have come up for auction.

The Hartman collection, which has been meticulously accumulated over a period of more than half a century, spans the history of jade carving in China. The wide selection of jade pieces come from the Neolithic period through to the Song and Ming dynasties, culminating in those from the golden age of jade carving - the high Qing dynasty of the 17th/18th century - with an impressive array of superb flawless white and spinach-green vessels.

“The magic and mystery of jade have captured the imagination of the Chinese for over 5,000 years, and the collecting and relentless search for the most beautiful jades in the world have provided Simone and I with endless pleasure over many years,” said Alan Hartman. “Every object in our collection has its unmistakable quality and tells its own story. We hope that through this dispersal, we will inspire new collectors who will share our passion for this superb stone.”

Pola Antebi, Senior Vice President & Specialist Head of the Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art Department, Christie’s Hong Kong, said: “We are delighted to have been entrusted with the sale of this exceptional collection. The entire collection pays tribute to the artistic taste, passion and the immense wealth of knowledge that the Hartmans have accumulated over the years.”

Alan Hartman is an influential and respected dealer and collector. His father opened his first gallery in 1927 specializing in Oriental Art in New York and it was only natural for Alan Hartman to follow in his father’s footsteps. At the age of 12, Alan Hartman acquired his first jade object, and his passion for the beautiful qualities of jade ever since has become evident. Together with his wife, Simone, whose artistic taste complements his vast experience in the field, the couple has formed what is undoubtedly one of the finest collections of Imperial jades in private hands.

In the first part of the sale to take place in 2006, over 100 exceptional pieces will be brought to centre-stage, which are expected to realize in excess of HK$100 million/ US$13 million. Among the highlights are Imperial jade carvings from the Qianlong period (1736-1795) of the highest quality material and finest craftsmanship which were made for the Emperor or for the Imperial Court.

Each piece in the collection has been carefully selected for its colour, quality of the stone and exquisite workmanship. The star lot is an extremely rare Imperial white jade libation cup (Estimate: HK$10,000,000-15,000,000/ US$1,300,000-1,900,000). The exterior is intricately carved to depict a landscape scene of Suzhou which is ingeniously composed to harmonize the uniqueness of its form. It is truly a breathtaking virtuoso masterpiece exemplifying the highest level of expertise achieved by Imperial lapidaries of the 18th Century.

This remarkable vessel reproduces the classical form of rhinoceros horn libation cups from the 17th century. Whilst examples of these cups are known in porcelain and bamboo, this piece appears to be the only one of this form represented in jade.

Equally noteworthy is a magnificent white jade vase (Estimate: HK$5,000,000-7,000,000/ US$640,000-900,000). This vessel in slender baluster form is carved with cicada blades at the neck and base, and shuang xi or ‘double happiness’ medallions at the shoulders, while the body is draped with dragon-like motifs. Carved from jade of the highest quality, its almost flawless white colour is captivating.

A white jade vase and cover (Estimate: HK$4,500,000-5,500,000/ US$580,000-700,000) has a flattened pear-shaped body carved with a dragon and cloud medallion enclosed by phoenix. The combination of dragon and phoenix is derived from Daoist iconography and represents sagacity, long life and benevolence.

Another highlight is an Imperial spinach-green jade brushpot (Estimate: HK$3,000,000-4,000,000/ US$380,000-510,000). Supported on five ruyi-shaped feet, the cylindrical vessel is intricately carved in relief with continuous scene of figures and pavilions nestled in a craggy mountain landscape. The Imperial poem to one side summarizes the scene of sages under a Wutong tree in a fenced landscape.

Also on offer is a pale celadon jade boulder (Estimate: HK$3,000,000-4,000,000/ US$380,000-510,000). It is deeply carved with a figure of Shou Lao and his boy attendants – who are carrying a jade musical stone suspended from a branch – climbing up a rocky precipice towards a pavilion nestled in the mountain.

One of the most resplendent pieces is a white jade censer and cover (Estimate: HK$2,000,000-3,000,000/ US$260,000-380,000). In the form of a stylized ram with rounded sides carved with flower heads, the censer is flanked by broad curled leaves. This superbly imagined and realized vessel embodies the height of Qing refinement in the art of jade carving, coupled with flawless polishing.

Further highlights include a white jade double gourd-form vase and cover (Estimate: HK$3,500,000-4,500,000/ US$450,000-580,000), a pair of white jade vases (Estimate: HK$1,500,000-2,000,000/ US$190,000-260,000), and an Imperial black-flecked spinach-green jade table screen (Estimate: HK$1,200,000-1,800,000/ US$150,000-230,000) which is carved in relief with immortals and pavilions in a mountainous landscape below a gilt-incised poem.