SHANGHAI.- Christie’s first auction in mainland China will be taking place in Shanghai on the 26th of September 2013 at Jing An Shangri-La Hotel. A three-day cultural gala will be held from September 24 to 26.

Christie's inaugural auction is a celebration of the great artistic traditions of both East and West. This curated auction includes 42 works in many collecting fields, from Asian Contemporary to European Modern Masters and American Post-War and Contemporary, to jewelry, watches, wine and decorative arts, with total estimates of RMB 100 million/USD 16 million.

Christie’s will also host private sale exhibitions featuring art pieces from different categories, including Chinese Contemporary Ink, Impressionist & Modern Art, Post-War and Contemporary, and Jewelry. Several masterpiece exhibitions will also be organized during this period. Christie’s Education will also play a key part during Christie’s Shanghai inaugural auction. A series of lectures have been arranged, covering key topics related to artists and art markets. Following a successful launch in Fall 2012, Christie’s Art Forum will present three art sessions at the Shanghai auction, inviting global artists and collectors to engage in a dialogue on art and collection, and to discuss the art market’s development, trends and future challenges and opportunities. Two online sales—Hong Kong Jewels and Andy Warhol @ Christie's: China Online Only Sale—will be held from September 19 to October 3 and from September 24 to October 4, respectively.

Steven P. Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of Christie's says, “Christie’s is honoured to be hosting a week of activities in Shanghai for art collectors and enthusiasts to enjoy. Our events in Shanghai go far beyond a beautifully curated auction which lends a fascinating dialogue between arts and cultures of the world. We will have a concurrent online sale. We will have private sale and masterpiece exhibitions. There will be three keynote Christie's Art Forums where we discuss matters in the art market today.

So in addition to offering the gala auction, we are hoping to convene anyone who wishes to engage in the wider world of art and culture. And while the events and activity is focused in Shanghai and China, we invite the global art community to join us both in person and virtually via Christies.com as many of the events will be broadcast live from Shanghai. In short, this is Shanghai Christie’s invitation to our world.”

AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS
Highlights of Asian Contemporary include Zeng Fanzhi's Bicycle and the celebrated, monumental series of sculptures, Clothes Veins Studies by Jianguo Sui. Western masterworks include a contemplative 1963 still-life by Giorgio Morandi and Pablo Picasso's 1969 Homme Assis, as well as Andy Warhol's glittering Diamond Dust Shoes of 1980-81 and Alexander Calder's mesmerising Black: 2-2-6.

Jewelry includes exceptional jade and diamonds, rubies and sapphires mounted by Van Cleef and Arpels and Faidee, while the spectacular watch collection includes four unique and exquisite Patek Philippe timepieces set with rubies, which will come to auction for the first time. The wine category includes vintages from great châteaux such as Latour, Mouton Rothschild, Lafite and Margaux. The latter is presented in a beautifully crafted bespoke architectural wine box in the form of the château itself, designed by LINLEY. Perhaps the most unusual work to be presented is the architectural maquette for Thomas Heatherwick's celebrated seed pavilion--created for the Shanghai Expo in 2010--a perfect metaphor of the cultural exchange between East and West which is celebrated in the first Shanghai auction.

MASTERPIECE EXHIBITIONS
From September 24 to 26, Christie’s will present a number of masterpiece exhibitions, including A Dialogue Through Art: Works from the Jan Krugier Collection, Imperial Chinese Porcelain: Treasures from a Distinguished American Collection, Fine Chinese Classical and Modern Paintings and An Exceptional and Rare Private Collection of Fabergé. Over 20 top quality masterpieces will be showcased.

PRIVATE SALES EXHIBITIONS
Christie’s has always been active in the private sales market. Private sales have long been conducted across all categories of fine art and jewels. Currently, Post-War and Contemporary art is one of the most active categories for private sales; however they are also conducted in the Impressionist and Modern art, Old Master Paintings and Jewelry categories. During the Shanghai auction week, Christie’s will host several exhibitions including Picasso and Chagall: Modern Art in Paris, Chinese Contemporary Ink, Abstract and Pop in Post-War and Contemporary Art, and Jewelry Private Sales. In addition, as part of the cooperation agreement with the Andy Warhol Foundation for Visual Arts, Christie’s will host an exhibition titled Andy Warhol at Christie’s: Shanghai Private Selling Exhibition. About 100 Eastern and Western artworks will be featured in the Shanghai Private Selling Exhibition.

ONLINE SALES
Christie’s innovative approach and investment in online initiatives continue to make the art market increasingly accessible. During the Shanghai auction period, Christie’s will hold two online-only sales, including Hong Kong Jewels, from September 19 to 3 October, and Andy Warhol @ Christie's: China Online Only Sale, from September 24 to October 4, 2013.

CHRISTIE’S ART FORUM
Christie’s Art Forum was launched in Hong Kong October 2012, with the goal to stimulate industry conversation and promote art appreciation in an interactive setting. Following its success in Hong Kong, Christie’s is bringing the platform to Shanghai to continue the open dialogue between artists, collectors and art market professionals from across the region and round the world about art and collecting. Three sessions will be featured: The Globalization of the Art Market, Shanghai Museum Ecological Future, and East meets West: When China meets Western Art.

CHRISTIE’S EDUCATION
Christie’s Education will host three forum discussions at the September celebrations in Shanghai. The sessions will be chaired by Christie’s specialists and guest speakers, and cover Chagall and the School of Paris, The Power of the Art Collector, Pablo Picasso and Jan Krugier, Valuing Art, Warhol & Calder: Two Modern American Masters and Valuing Contemporary Art. These events are part of Christie’s continuing effort to promote art appreciation and provide the general public with access to art education.