SOTHEBY S HONG KONG AUTUMN SALES 2009 TO BE HELD IN OCTOBER LOTS ESTIMATED AT IN EXCESS OF HK$780

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1 Press Release Hong Kong For Immediate Release Hong Kong Rhonda Yung Dick Lee WT Fu Eliza Chan SOTHEBY S HONG KONG AUTUMN SALES 2009 TO BE HELD IN OCTOBER TO OFFER OVER 2,300 LOTS ESTIMATED AT IN EXCESS OF HK$780 MILLION (US$100 MILLION) Public Exhibitions: 3 7 October Auctions: 3 8 October Hong Kong, August ust 2009 Sotheby s Hong Kong Autumn Sales 2009 will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 3 to 8 October This sales series will offer over 2,300 lots of Modern and Contemporary Chinese and Southeast Asian Art, traditional Chinese paintings, fine Chinese ceramics and works of art as well as jewellery, watches and wine with a total estimate in excess of HK$780 million / US$100 million*. Selected highlights will be showcased during travelling exhibitions across Asia and in New York in August and September, followed by a public exhibition in Hong Kong from 3 to 7 October Mr. Kevin Ching, Chief Executive Officer, Sotheby s Asia, said, Sotheby s Hong Kong shall continue its commitment to offer only the very best to Asia and the rest of the world. The forthcoming and thoughtfully curated October sales are set to satisfy the distinctive and diverse taste of our discerning clients and collectors. We are particularly delighted to bring to market a number of outstanding private collections with impeccable provenance. They include fine wines from two outstanding private collections, a private collection of Imperial works of art from the Qianlong reign, as well as exceptional modern Chinese ink paintings and contemporary Chinese art. Collectively our offerings, many of exceptional quality and rarity, shall enthrall the market and collectors alike. AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS Two superb private wine collections will be offered - The Classic Cellar from a Great American Collector III 3 October An Exceptional Cellar from a Private American Collector 4 October - estimated combined total: approximately HK$30-45 million; with a total of over 1,000 lots comprising more than 6,000 bottles

2 Highlights from both Collections include over 30 cases of Pétrus from 1982 to 2000, and more than 40 cases of both Lafite Rothschild and Mouton Rothschild from 1959 to From Burgundy, the highlight is a substantial collection of wines from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, including 12 vintages of the great Romanée-Conti. Château Haut Brion 1989, 12 bottles Est.: HK$80, ,000 Château Haut Brion 1990, 12 bottles Est.: HK$35,000-50,000 50,000 Château Haut Brion 1990, 1 imperial Est.: HK$25,000-32,000 Château Lafite 1986, 6 magnums Est.: HK$75,000-95,000 Château Lafite 1986, 12 bottles Est.: HK$60,000-85,000 Château Lafite 1990, 3 double magnums Est.: HK$40,000-55,000 Château Lafite 1990, 12 bottles Est.: HK$35,000-50,000 50,000 Château Pétrus 1989, 12 bottles Est.: HK$160, ,000 Château Pétrus 1989, 3 double magnums Est. HK$190, , ,000 Château Pétrus 1990, 12 bottles Est.: HK$160, ,000 Château Pétrus 1990, 6 magnums Est.: HK$190, ,000 Romanée Conti 1990, 1 bottle Est.: HK$55,000-80,000 Romanée Conti 1990, 2 magnums Est.: HK$300, ,000 2

3 Fine Chinese C Paintings 5 October - estimated total: over HK$67 million; total lots: over 250 Li Keran ( ) 1989) Tranquil Landscape ink and colour on paper, hanging scroll x 55 cm. Est.: HK$3-4.5 million Tranquil Landscape was selected by the artist for his participation in the Contemporary Chinese Paintings exhibition organised by The Chinese University of Hong Kong in In this painting, Li s delicate and natural brushstrokes almost succeed in bringing the velvety flowing waterfall and the misty forest to life. Qi Baishi ( ) 1957) Scratching Zhong Kui s Back ink and colour on paper, framed x 43.7 cm. Est.: HK$ million This work has its origins in a folk tale, featuring a mischievous little devil who scratches the back of its master, Zhong Kui. Shown with characteristic unconstrained brushwork, the devil is portrayed trying in vain to reach the right spot; the experience is so unsatisfying for the anxious Zhong Kui that his beard is sent flying. The humourous inscription is exaggerated, yet it is intended to inspire: it is never easy to scratch another s itch, just as it is not easy to serve your master. Wu Guanzhong (b.1919) Old City of Chongqing ink and colour on paper, framed x 107 cm. Est.: HK$2.2-3 million Wu started creating his captivating works that depict the scenes of mountain villages in Chongqing in the mid-1970s. Old City of Chongqing, executed in 1989, is his largest work of square dimension amongst this series, capturing the picturesque scenery of an old city in Chongqing along the Yangtze River. 3

4 Modern and Contemporary Southeast Asian Paintings 6 October - estimated total: in excess of HK$22 million; total lots: approximately 120 Lee Man Fong ( ) 1988) Magnificent Horses oil on masonite board Spring x 235 cm. Est.: : HK$ million Imbued with poetic elegance and vividness, Magnificent Horses is one of the largest and most important works by Lee to appear at auction. It is also the largest horse picture created by the artist, and is amongst the last few major works that Lee completed before his migration from Indonesia to Singapore. Adrien Jean Le Mayeur de Merprès ( ) 1958) Two Women on the Beach, Tahiti oil on canvas circa x 121 cm. Est.: HK$1.4-2 million One of the superb creations by the artist during his visit to Tahiti. The work depicts two women wrapped in their bright pink sarongs resting beneath a coconut tree by the sea. Le Mayeur s obsession with sunlight is seldom stated with such clarity and passion as it is in this work. I Nyoman Masriadi (b.1973) The Man from Bantul "The Monster" mixed media on canvas x 150 cm. Est.: HK$600, ,000 Boxing is one of the most pervasive and personal themes in Masriadi s paintings. This work features his signature muscled figures in a boxing ring, narrating a tale of tragedy and comedy between winners and losers. A work of fine wit and supreme quality, this painting also stands out for the artist s courage to push limitations and to create his own distinctive artistic language. 4

5 20th Century Chinese Art 6 October - estimated total: over HK$58 million; total lots: approximately 50 Sanyu (Chang ( Yu) ( ) 1966) Lotus et Poissons Rouges (Lotus and Red Fish) oil on isorel circa mid 1950s x 179 cm. Est.: : HK$15-25 million Executed in the mid 1950s, Lotus et Poissons Rouges is not only a magnificent work from the peak of Sanyu s career, but also the largest painting by the artist ever to appear at auction. Completely fresh to the market, this incredibly rare masterpiece has been unseen by the public for over 50 years. It depicts flowers, landscape and small fish in the water in a rich and bountiful composition. Zhu Ming (Ju Ming) (b. 1938) Taichi Series Taichi Arch** bronze x 420 x 156 cm. Est.: : HK$ million Zhu Ming s sculptures illustrate the rhythmic movement and vitality of ** Illustrated above is another Taichi Taichi. This superb example is imbued with balance and harmony, Arch sculpture by Zhu Ming from the demonstrating force and beauty simultaneously. Zhu masters the subtle same series nuances of his subject and material: as he carves, the sheer weight of the material is transformed into the smooth motions of Taichi, creating vivid and lively postures. Contemporary Asian Art 6 October - estimated total: over HK$95 million; total lots: over 180 Cai Guo-Qiang (b.1957) Money Net No.3 gunpowder and ink on paper x 600 cm. Est.: HK$ million Money Net No.3 is a documentation of Project No. 51 Explosion: Money Net, performed by Cai at London s Royal Academy of Arts at the opening of The Galleries Show in 2002, in which a sculpture of a drawstring purse, 5

6 over seven metres high and constructed from wires of gunpowder fuses, was burnt into ashes. This performance was later recorded on paper as the present work. The spontaneous burn marks with subtle tonal variations is reminiscent of classical Chinese ink and brush paintings. Yan Pei-Ming ing (b.1960) Self Portrait as a s a Skull (Autoportrait en crâne) (Triptych) oil on canvas x 150 cm. each Est.: HK$ million Death has been a subject matter that has intrigued Yan Pei-Ming in recent years, particularly since his father passed away. This powerful triptych, drenched in a sanguinary red, is composed with a ponderous hand charged with the fear of death. The work succeeds in revealing the artist's fear of and insights on death; the skulls are symbolic of the artist's direct confrontation, as a result of a realization that evasion is impossible Ryuki Yamamoto (b. 1976) Bullied by Justice (Diptych) acrylic on canvas x cm. Est.: HK$800, million Ryuki Yamamoto s signature photorealist self-portrait juxtaposes a legion of American superheroes in this monumental painting. The bizarre composition and the ironic visual contrast indicate the tenuous dynamics between Japan and the West. Li Songsong (b. 1973) The Decameron oil on canvas x 210 cm. Est.: HK$800, million Li Songsong explores the tension between old photos, upon which his paintings are based, and his reinterpretation of the political events captured. Inspired by 14 th century Italian writer Giovanni Boccacio s novel of the same title, Li cut a photo of the National People s Congress in 2004 into ten pieces and reassembled this political event in a reincarnation of The Decameron in order to rethink and reinterpret this historical event. 6

7 Important Watches 7 October - estimated total: over HK$26 million; total lots: over 200, including over 50 exclusive modern timepieces from The Property from an Important Private Collection estimated in excess of HK$8 million. From The Property from an Important Private Collection: The top lot of the Collection is an Impressive and a Rare Jaeger-LeCoultre limited edition Platinum Perpetual Calenda C alendar r Multi-axis Spherical Tourbillon Wristwatch Gyrotourbillon 1, 1 circa 2006 Est.: : HK$2-3 million The impressive Gyrotourbillon 1 by Jaeger-LeCoultre has carved its mark in the art of watch making - as the first spherical tourbillon the world has ever seen. Located at the heart of this horological marvel is the Jaeger- LeCoultre Calibre 177, which displays the multi-axis gyrating tourbillon, equation of time indication and a perpetual calendar equipped with four retrograde hands. Limited to only 75 pieces - with the present example numbered 11 - this exclusive timepiece makes its auction debut in Asia. Other highlights of the auction: Patek Philippe, 18K White Gold Automatic Perpetual Calendar Wristwatch ristwatch, circa 1979, Ref. 3448G Est st.: HK$ million The model, Ref. 3448, was first launched in 1962, and was the first automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch in the market at that time. The majority of this model was produced in 18-carat yellow gold cases. This example, however, was sculpted in 18-carat white gold, and is even rarer due to its exceptionally pristine condition. Breguet, Souscription No.. 108, limited edition set of Platinum Minute Repeating Perpetual Calendar Wristwatch, Ref (pictured left), and Platinum Perpétuelle Watch, Ref (pictured right), circa 1994 Est st.: HK$950, million Soucription sets were produced to celebrate Breguet s more than 200 years of history. Among the limited production of 300 sets, it is believed that only 15 sets were produced in platinum. The current example is numbered

8 Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite 7 October - estimated total: in excess of HK$230 million; total lots: over 320 A Very Fine Kashmir Sapphire and Diamond Ring, carats Expected to fetch approximately HK$10 million Fine Kashmir sapphires are virtually unobtainable today as its initial mine was depleted over a century ago. This carat Kashmir sapphire, set in a classic ring with two cushion-shaped diamonds of over 2 carats, is extremely rare for its size and quality. A Pair of Jadeite Huaigu and Diamond Pendent Earrings Est.: : HK$ million Huaigu is one of the most traditional shapes in jadeite and is also a symbol of the heaven and eternity. This flawless pair of jadeite huaigu ear pendants of exceptional translucency and very fine emerald green colour is a magical treasure of jadeite connoisseurship. A Rare and Unusual Octahedral-shaped haped Flower Diamond, 7.39 carats Est.: HK$ million This 7.39-carat octahedral diamond is a singular example that displays six unusually large petal-shaped clouds that form a delicate flower pattern, in all of the eight facets of the diamond. Each of the petals is composed of billions of tiny pinpoints that result from an unusual and complex growth history of the diamond. 8

9 Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art - 8 October - estimated total: approaching HK$300 million; total lots: over This season s sales series features the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat Collection Qianl nlong ong. It encompasses a selected group of over 30 pieces including glassware, metalwork, rhinoceros horn, jade and wood made for the rarefied studios of the Qianlong Emperor. From Water, Pine and Stone Retreat Collection Qianlong ong: An Imperial Knife with a Rhinoceros Horn Scabbard Mark and Period of Qianlong 33 cm. length Expected to fetch in excess of HK$8 million Knife hilts made of rhinoceros horn are extremely rare. The exceptional workmanship and highly decorative quality of this knife suggests that it was produced by the Palace Workshop where military and hunting weapons were made for the emperor and his family. Other highlights of the auction: An Outstanding Imperial Carved Zitan Dragon Throne, Qianlong Period x x 85.5 cm Est.: HK$20-30 million The present Imperial throne ranks among the finest ever produced during the 18th century. The very deep, three-dimensional style of the carving and the style of the dragons can be found on the matching daybed in the collection of the Palace Museum Beijing. Symbolic of Imperial power, thrones were the seats of power where only the Emperor could sit and engage in the business of rulership. This throne is also special for its impressive size (length cm) and appears to be one of the largest examples recorded. A Superb and Rare Large Blue And White Dragon Moonflask Seal Mark and Period of f Qianlong 45.5 cm height Est.: HK$15-20 million One other moonflask of this shape, decorated with a full-faced leaping five-clawed dragon, remains in the collection of the Palace Museum Beijing. The form of the present moonflask is an adaptation of early 15 th century blue and white flasks, themselves harking back much earlier foreign pilgrim bottles made of leather. Blue and white moonflasks of this shape also exist with other designs, such as dragon and phoenix, and floral scrolls. 9

10 An Important and Superbly Carved Foliate Rim Cinnabar Lacquer Landscape Dish Incised Mark and Period of Yongle 34.8 cm.. diameter Est.: HK$8 $8-12 million Imperial patronage in the early Ming dynasty instilled new vigour in the art of carved cinnabar lacquer. The present magnificent large lobed cinnabar lacquer dish, which previously came from a European collection, ranks among the finest lacquer pieces of the period to have come on the market in recent years. Both its superb shape and size are very rare amongst early Ming dish of carved lacquer ware. * Estimates do not include buyer s premium ***Images available upon request*** Press releases are now available at sothebys.com NOTES TO EDITORS Sotheby's Hong Kong Autumn Sales 2009 Calendar Exhibition Date Auction Date Auctions 3 4 October 3 4 October Wine 3 4 October 5 October Fine Chinese Paintings 3 5 October 6 October 20th Century Chinese Art Modern and Contemporary Southeast Asian Paintings Contemporary Asian Art 3 6 October 7 October Important Watches Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite 3 7 October 8 October Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Hong Kong Exhibition and Auction Venue Hall 3, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (New Wing), 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Travelling Exhibitions August Jakarta 5 6 September Shanghai 8 9 September Beijing September New York September Singapore September Bangkok September Taipei 10