FEATURING IMPERIAL TREASURES, RARE CHINESE CLASSICAL & MODERN PAINTINGS AND TEA WARES

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1 TOKYO CHUO AUCTION HONG KONG SPRING 2016 SALES FEATURING IMPERIAL TREASURES, RARE CHINESE CLASSICAL & MODERN PAINTINGS AND TEA WARES Preview: May 2016 Auctions: May 2016 Venue: Enquiries: Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong auction.com.hk A fine doucai lotus vase with kuilong- shaped handles, Qianlong mark and period ( ), H: 41cm Estimate: HK$6,000,000-8,000,000/ US$774,000-1,032,000 Tokyo Chuo Auction Hong Kong will hold its Spring Auctions at the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong from 29 to 30 May More than 500 lots will be offered in the sale series, which includes Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Chinese Classical Paintings and Calligraphy, Fine Chinese Modern Paintings, ICHIGO ICHIE - The Art of Tea Ceremony, and Fine Scholar's Objects. Some of the rare works on offer were formerly in eminent Japanese collections and have never before appeared in the auction market. All offerings will be exhibited in a public preview at the Four Seasons Hotel from 27 to 28 May 2016.

2 IMPORTANT CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART The Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art sale features a selection of rare imperial treasures from the Ming and Qing dynasties, led by a fine doucai lotus vase with kuilong- shaped handles, Qianlong mark and period ( ) (Estimate: HK$6,000,000-8,000,000/ US$774,000-1,032,000). Ceramics from the Qianlong period are distinguished by the innovative techniques used, combined with styles of the preceding Kangxi and Yongzheng periods. This magnificent vase is decorated with lotus scrolls with a band of ruyi- heads on its rim and shoulder. Its neck is flanked by elaborate kui dragon handles painted in iron- red and decorated with auspicious emblems such as bats and jade chimes. It displays Western influences in its enamel decoration on a white background, giving a three- dimensional appearance. Such colourful and intricate designs displaying the best of ancient and innovative crafts make this vase a key example of imperial ceramics in the Qianlong period. A pair of famille- rose "dragons" tea bowls and covers, Qianlong marks and period ( ) H: 7.6cm; D: 11cm x 2 Estimate: HK$5,500,000-6,500,000/ US$709, ,500 Another highlight is a pair of famille- rose "dragons" tea bowls and covers, Qianlong marks and period ( ). Emperor Qianlong maintained a keen interest in tea tasting throughout his life, and was fastidious about the way his tea services were made. During the Qing dynasty, the method of tea brewing from the Ming dynasty was followed, with lidded tea bowls serving as an important instrument in tea making. Porcelain lidded tea bowls were therefore highly regarded amongst imperial ceramics of the Qianlong period. This exquisite pair of famille- rose "dragon" tea bowls and covers is a rare example from the imperial kilns, made even more exceptional by being a matching pair intact with covers. The elegant style and fine craftsmanship of the bowls are seen both in the white porcelain impressed throughout with subtle wave patterns and the overglaze iconography of iron- red, five -clawed dragons toying with flaming pearls. These mighty dragons soar amongst scrolling clouds and radiate a fiery energy. In addition, the set is adorned by gilded rims on each tea bowl and the lid of the cover; while the plain interior in an even tone of light turquoise creates

3 an intriguing and unique juxtaposition of colours with the iron- red on the exterior. Together with the vigorous wave patterns and the detailed depiction of dragons, not only is the set a delight to the eye, it is also a true display of the artistry of Chinese porcelain. A Guan- type seven- hole vase, Qianlong mark and period ( ) H: 23cm Estimate: HK$1,200,000-1,800,000/ US$154, ,200 Based on a Song dynasty prototype, this finely potted, elegant vase was valued and recorded by a renowned Japanese archaeologist. Its shape was most likely adopted from the garlic- head vase design of the Han dynasty (206 BC- 219 AD). The exterior of its globular body is covered in a bluish- grey celadon glaze and its mouth resembles a lotus pod with seven pierced holes on top. Emperor Qianlong was very fond of Song wares, especially Guan wares, and ordered artisans in the imperial kilns to produce Guan- style vessels. This seven- hole vase with its natural lotus- like shape is an excellent example of the impressive artistic and technical expertise of artisans in the Qianlong period. A gold- decorated Yixing bats and flowers teapot and cover, Qianlong mark and period ( ) H: 13cm Estimate: HK$2,000,000-2,200,000/ US$258, ,800 This gold- decorated Yixing bats and flowers teapot and cover features auspicious designs, including fish, lingzhi fungus, jade chimes and bats symbolizing abundance and celebrations. With an elaborate yet delicate design, this teapot and cover not only showcases Japanese artistic styles, but also the Chinese artisans superb artistry, making it a rare imperial work of art from the Qing court. A Dehua archaistic incense burner with taotie design and cover, Kangxi period ( ) H: 15cm; stand H: 28cm Estimate: HK$120, ,000/ US$15,480-23,220

4 This incense burner with taotie design and cover was formerly in the collection of the Ishizaka clan of Japan. Its body is finely carved with various patterns in relief, such as the chilong and taotie designs. With its exterior carefully glazed in ivory white, its traditional and solemn shape resembling archaic bronzes from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the elegant vessel is a fine example of high- quality Dehua porcelains. A gilt- decorated blue- glazed longevity vase Mark of Shen De Tang Daoguang period ( ) H: 30cm x 2 Estimate: HK$2,500,000-3,500,000/ US$322, ,500 Also of note is a pair of gilt- decorated blue- glazed "longevity" vases, Daoguang period ( ), Shen De Tang Zhi mark (Made for the Hall for the Cultivation of Virtue). The vases are decorated in gilt reserved on a rich blue ground, with auspicious motifs including scrolling vines, bats, peaches, dragons and ruyi, showing the remarkable artistry and technical skill of porcelain with the Shende Tang hallmark. Fewer than 300 pieces of porcelain with this hallmark are believed to have survived to this day and among them, vases are exceptionally rare. A wucai narcissuses month cup, Kangxi mark and period ( ) H: 5cm; D: 6.5cm Estimate: HK$1,000,000-1,200,000/ US$129, ,800 Provenance: Christie's Hong Kong, 28 April 1997, Lot 780 A wucai orchids month cup, Kangxi mark and period ( ) H: 5cm; D: 6.5cm Estimate: HK$1,000,000-1,200,000/ US$129, ,800

5 These delicate, thinly potted wine cups, produced at the imperial kilns during the Kangxi reign, were painted in underglaze blue and overglaze enamels in wucai style with individual flowers that designated each of the twelve months of the year. The narcissuses cup represents the eleventh lunar month, while the orchids cup depicts the seventh month. The reverse of each cup is inscribed with a poet couplet relating to the flowers in front. Mouth cups from the Kangxi period are exceedingly rare and highly sought after by collectors. A Cizhou floral scrolls vase, Song dynasty ( ) H: 29.5cm Estimate: HK$350, ,000/ US$45,150-58,050 Provenance: Eskenazi Collection, London; Outei Kaneko Collection Fine Chinese Classical Paintings and Calligraphy Dong Qichang ( ) Autumn landscape in the style of Mi Fu Ink and colour on silk, hanging scroll cm Estimate:HK$1,800,000-3,200,000/ US$232, ,800 Autumn landscape in the style of Mi Fu by Dong Qichang ( ) features the typical composition of one river, two shores. In the foreground is a clump of towering trees on a hillside skilfully painted with different shades of ink and brushstrokes. The background consists of rolling hills and valleys shrouded in swirling clouds. This painting was collected by numerous celebrated Chinese and Japanese collectors, including Huang Dejun, Wu Yuanhui, Fang Junyi, Luo Zhengyu, Kunoshi Huang Changyi, Naito Konan and the Iida family, who founded the Takashimaya department store chain.

6 Anonymous (Song Yuan dynasty) Quails and peonies Ink and colour on silk, hanging scroll 33 41cm Estimate: HK$600, ,000/ US$77, ,200 Quails and peonies, from the collection of an oil painter of the Taisho period ( ) in Japan, is a simple but meaningful painting conveying wishes of prosperity. A quail, depicted with meticulous brushwork, stands in the foreground, gazing at the empty left side of the painting. Behind it grows a bush of lively and elegant peonies, symbols of affluence in Chinese culture. The various colours applied on them blend into an overall light brownish tone and create a sense of refinement. The wonderful brushwork and painstaking care with which the painting is rendered suggest that it was created by one of the first- class court painters in the late Southern Song dynasty ( ). Wen Zhengming ( ) Beautiful streams and mountains cm Ink and colour on paper, ink on paper, handscroll Estimate: HK$1,800,000-2,600,000/ US$232, ,400 Beautiful streams and mountains, painted by Wen Zhengming ( ) in the 17 th year of the Jiajing period (1538), was seen and praised by numerous renowned artists and critics in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Elegantly rendered with mineral colours, mainly blue and green, it depicts classical scenery with towering trees and rolling hills overshadowing cottages, whilst a gentle breeze is blowing from mountains afar, across the river, caressing the landscape.

7 Fine Chinese Modern Paintings Wu Changshuo ( ) Reeds; Chrysanthemums Ink on paper; ink and colour on paper, a pair of hanging scrolls cm 2 Dated bing yin (1926) Estimate: HK$600, ,000/ US$77, ,200 Wu Changshuo ( ) excelled in integrating poetry into his paintings, as shown by Reeds; Chrysanthemums featured in the sale. Rendered with carefree and dry brushwork, the chrysanthemums in the painting are full of life and show the beauty of nature. The inscribed seven- character poem expresses the artist s unwillingness to live a lowly life hindered by other people; he aspired to live freely, independent of any mundane influences, like the chrysanthemums flourishing in the wild. The subject matter of the other painting is reeds, which are placed in a simple composition. The inside of the petals and leaves are drawn using various shades of ink, allowing the subject to stand out to extol the joy of living, vindicating the artist s reputation as a brilliant literati painter. Qi Baishi ( ) Year of the Great Harvest Dated 1948 Ink on paper, hanging scroll cm Estimate: HK$2,800,000-5,000,000/ US$361, ,000 Year of the Great Harvest was painted by Qi Baishi ( ) to celebrate the abundance of crops gathered in the season, as suggested by the title of the painting. The foreground shows three rats gathering under a ripe rice stalk to munch the fallen grains, while another two are quickly approaching from the background to join the feast. Crop- eating rats is not a particularly pleasant scene, but Qi did not let the stereotype affect his choice of subject. Under his brush, the scene becomes an adorable, almost

8 comical snippet from nature. The artist was well respected and acclaimed by Japanese collectors and dealers, many of whom travelled to Beijing, where the painter resided in his later years, to buy his works. Year of the Great Harvest comes from a collection in Hakuryudo, Japan. Xu Beihong ( ) A battle steed Dated thirty- fourth year of the Republic of China (1945) cm Ink and colour on paper, hanging scroll Estimate: HK$500, ,000/ US$64, ,200 A battle steed by Xu Beihong ( ) features a simple composition with a lone majestic horse occupying most of the picture plane, facing not the viewer but the background. Drawn using bold, quick and forceful brushstrokes with dark ink and water, the steed s exuberant physical strength and mental vigour are equally impressively captured. Proudly standing on the ground with sturdy legs, the horse bravely faces whatever lies ahead, with its mane and tail blowing in the wind, ready to charge into the unknown. Xie Zhiliu ( ); Chen Peiqiu (B.1922) Flowers and bird; Boating Dated ji hai (1959) Ink and colour on paper; ink on paper, folding fan cm Estimate: HK$80, ,000/ US$10,320-15,480 Xie Zhiliu ( ) painted Flowers and bird with elegant brushwork and use of colour, wonderfully capturing an intriguing scene from nature on the fan leaf. Boating by Chen Peiqiu (b.1922) features a small boat floating on a tranquil river lined with reeds. On the boat gracefully stands an old man in a traditional straw raincoat holding a fan, as if he were wandering in the misty mountains of China s Jiangnan picturesque region.

9 Fine Scholar's Objects A fine "five bats" Duan inkstone gifted to Tsuyoshi Inukai by Liang Qichao, Qing dynasty L: 22.5cm; W: 19.5cm; H: 2.5cm Estimate: HK$600, ,000/ US$77, ,200 In 1918 Liang Qichao presented this inkstone to the renowned Japanese politician Tsuyoshi Inukai. The top is covered with a thin layer of dark blue surrounded by streaks of brownish red. On the right there is a combination of red, white, yellow, green and black colours, all natural mineral hues in the stone. At the top- left corner there are several streaks of gold further decorating this colourful object. The underside is carved with rolling clouds and bats symbolizing fortune. The superb carving technique applied on the stone clearly reveals the skill of the artisan. A Tianhuang stone dragons seal L: 3cm; W: 1.8cm; H: 5.5cm; Weight: 43g Estimate: HK$200, ,000/ US$25,800-64,500 This stone resembles jade and is carved with a dragon design, symbolizing the hope that one s children will be successful. Stone carvings were traditionally expensive and were rarely produced except for imperial use. This is a rare work of art, carved according to the natural curves of the stone. A bronze dagger- axe head collected by Wu Dacheng, Chen Jieqi and Aixinjueluo Pulun L: 21.5cm Estimate: HK$800,000-1,200,000/ US$103, ,800

10 ICHIGO ICHIE - The Art of Tea Ceremony A gold "kirin" teapot and cover with iron handle carved by Masami H: 12 cm, 555g Estimate: HK$350, ,000/ US$45,150-58,050 A gold kirin teapot and cover with iron handle carved by Masami is delicately decorated with two lively kirins riding on waves. Works of art with kirin iconographies were made exclusively for royalty, and the magnificence of the two kirins certainly gives this teapot the regal grandeur. A Jian oil spot Tenmoku tea bowl, Song dynasty ( ) H: 5cm; D: 10.7cm Estimate: HK$250, ,000/ US$32,250-45,150 This beautiful tea bowl from the Song dynasty features thick layers of purplish black glaze on the exterior. The foot, however, is not glazed. As natural patterns resembling oil spots occurred on the glaze during production, this type of bowl is also known as an oil spot Tenmoku tea bowl. With a ring of gold at the rim, the bowl has a mesmerising combination of contrasting colours which complement and balance each other. A gold and silver- inlaid dragons incense stand, Wanli period ( ) H: 60cm Estimate: HK$300, ,000/ US$38,700-64,500 This incense stand marks the epitome of Ming dynasty furniture with its classical design and elegant structure, as well as the iconic five- petal begonia shape. The flat top of the stand illustrates an exuberant scene of two five- clawed dragons soaring and gliding above a cliff and the ocean, chasing after a flaming pearl. The powerful and relentless surges of the ocean waves allude to the idea of continued

11 and vigorous lives. The decorations on the each of the five sides of the apron echo that of the flat top with matching iconography, emphasising the dragon as the majestic emblem of the imperial clan; whilst the ruyi- clouds and floral patterns covering the high- reticulated waist and the slender cabriole legs lend the stand its grace and resplendence. The base of the stand bears a serene depiction of two deer sauntering among pine trees as symbols of longevity. Executed with exceptional craftsmanship, this stand reflects the refined tastes of classical Chinese literati in the Ming dynasty. # # # About Tokyo Chuo Auction Founded in 2010, Tokyo Chuo Auction endeavours to foster cultural exchange between Japan and China. Its inaugural sale in 2010 was also the first auction ever held in Japan offering Chinese antiques to promote the appreciation of Chinese fine art assembled in Japan. The sale aroused enormous interest amongst collectors and brought a new dimension to the Japanese art market. Tokyo Chuo Auction now holds several sales a year offering classical and modern Chinese paintings, Chinese ceramics and works of art, bronzes, tea vessels, scholar s objects, jewellery and watches. More than twenty auctions have been conducted in Japan with previews held in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. To further develop its business activities in the region, Tokyo Chuo Auction set up its Hong Kong office in Tokyo Chuo Auction s inaugural Hong Kong auctions were successfully held on 26 November 2014 at the Four Seasons Hotel and have been held twice a year ever since, in spring and autumn. Tokyo Chuo Auction s Hong Kong Spring 2016 Sales will be held at the Four Seasons Hotel from 29 to 30 May Press Contact: Victoria Communications victoria@victoriapr.com.hk