HONG KONG.- China Guardian Auctions Co, Ltd., the oldest auction house in Mainland China, specializing in Chinese artwork of all varieties, will build on the huge success of its first auction in Hong Kong in 2012 with a Spring Auction Sale Series on April 4-5 2013. Three hundred Chinese ink paintings will be presented, including 25 Hong Kong ink paintings, alongside their inaugural Chinese ceramics sale in Hong Kong. The preview will run from April 2-4, 2013. The total estimate for the sale is in excess of HKD200 million (USD 25.8million).

The first session, Chinese Painting and Calligraphy from the Four Seas includes an exceptional selection of ink paintings by leading modern masters of Chinese painting,Wu Hufan, Zhang Daqian, Ren Yi and Huang Zhou, among others. Highlights include Wu Hufan’s handscroll Autumn Sentiments, one of the representative artworks of Chinese ink and wash painting in the 20th century (est. HKD 8million-12million/ USD 1million – 1.546 million); Zhang Diqian’s Cottages in Misty Mountains, a large-scale painting, regarded as one of the best works of the artist’s career (est. HKD 12million-22million/ USD 1.546million – 2.835million); and Huang Zhou’s masterpiece Go to the Fair, (est. HKD 1.6 million to 2.6 million/ USD 206,000 to 335,000); an album of eight leaves by eight artists, including Lu Yanshao, Cheng Shifa, Xie Zhiliu, Chen Peiqiu, Liu Danzhai, Zhu Qizhan, Lin Fengmian and Ye Qianyu (est. 1 million HKD to 1.8 million/ USD 128,838 to 231,910); and a series of 20 classic paintings from the artist Fang Junbi. Also featured will be a collection of work by 20 Hong Kong artists, including Liu Kuo-sung, Lui Shou-kwan, Kan Tai-keung, Luis Chan and Wucius Wong.

A special sale of over 80 pieces of ancient Chinese ceramics and artworks, (est. HK$40 million/ USD 5,153,543), will be the main session for the second day of the sales on April 5th. A wide range of items spanning from the Shang Dynasty (17BC-11BC) to Modern China will be presented. Highlights include a rare underglazed-red and blue white brushpot with a Kangxi period six-character mark (1622-1722), estimate HK$3,000,000 – 4,000,000 (USD 386,495 – 515,327). The brush pot was produced exclusively for imperial use. On the body is a script of a Han Dynasty article that celebrates the success of the emperors. A rare and finely cast ritual bronze wine vessel, Shang Dynasty, 12th-11th Century BC, estimate HK$ 12,000,000 – 16,000,000 (USD 1,546,780 – 2,061,308), presents a classical example of the superb techniques of bronze ware production during the Shang Dynasty and has an impeccable provenance, being previously owned by the House of Yamanaka and Tsui Tsin-tong. A very rare underglaze-blue and yellow-enamelled moonflask with a Yongzheng seal mark and of the period (1723-1735) HK$3,000,000 – 5,000,000 (USD 386,516 – 644,193) is another major highlight of the sale.

Following the successful debut of furniture sales in Hong Kong last autumn, the final sessions ‘Grandeur – Chinese Furniture of Ming and Qing Dynasties’ and ‘Chinese Furniture from Hung’s Collection’ will present an impressive collection of Huanghuali furniture from the Late Ming and Early Qing Dynasty, the Qianlong Period and the 17th Century, including five rare pieces from the Hung family who have been collecting Ming and early Qing furniture for several decades and whose Collection is reputed to be one of the finest in the world.

Chinese Oil Painting including Chang Yu’s White Plum, Liu Wei’s Revolutionary Family and Xu Bing’s pioneering Quotations from Chairman Mao will be exhibited. A series of 30 pieces of lacquer ware from Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasty will also be exhibited during the preview.