PUT YOUR HANDS UP

Christie’s is bringing some serious bling to Hong Kong auction

Premier auction house Christie’s will be showcasing some of their to-be-auctioned highlights in Bangkok next month to woo luxury and art enthusiasts to raise their pad- dles in the much-anticipate d Christie’s Hong Kong Spring Auc-tions scheduled for May 26-3 1. Celebrating their 250th anniversaryy last year, the established auction house holdsh and facilitates auctions in 12 count ries, covering over 80 categories of items withw Hong Kong as the only auction hous se in the Asian region. Dealing directly withh collectors, they facilitate the movement ofo art pieces, jewellery and luxury products and serve as an engine that moves the art worldw forward. The auction house has madem headlines for record breaking deals, like Modigliani’s US$170.4 million (5.9 billion baht) Nu Couché, Picasso’s $67.4 million Buste De Femme, and Warhol’s $36 million Four Marilyns — all bought by Asian buyers.

The Christie’s Hong Kong Spring Auctions will see key categories, including Asian 20th Century and Contemporary Art, Chinese Classical and Modern Paintings, Chinese Ceramics and Works of Arts, as well as Magnificent Jewels, Important Watches, Fine and Rare Wine and Handbags and Accessories.

“Undoubtedly the highlight of the season is our special evening sale titled ‘Contemporaries: Voices From The East And West’,” said Rebecca Wei, president of Christie’s Asia. “The ambitious curatorial undertaking will see works from both Western and Asian artists featured side by side, breaking down boundaries of East and West. The represented artists are from all ages, styles, disciplines and periods, merging on a single platform. The sale will create meaningful cross-dialogue and explore the concept of art as a singular global force. This is the first time in the region that such a comprehensive offering of international artists is represented in one sale.”

The highlights preview in Bangkok, which takes place in the Azure Room at the Renaissance Hotel on May 18-19, will be presenting two main categories: Magnificent Jewels and Important Watches.

Jewellery pieces include designs by four internationally-renowned jewellery designers like Adrian Cheng, Cindy Chao, Edmond Chin and Michelle Ong. Watches consist of timepieces by Patek Philippe, Rolex and Richard Mille.

“Thai buyers are quite discerning and are increasingly gaining confidence in buying at auctions,” Wei said. “They have a good eye for our luxury offerings and are usually quite experienced buyers in this field. They have a particular interest in jewellery, watches and handbags, and collect art from prominent Southeast Asian artists.”

Auctioning has many benefits for the buyers. One, being that they get certified and top quality products chosen by the best curators, and two, buyers can buy items in the prices that they want and can buy — in Christie’s case, from $200 to millions.

Elite Life picks out some of the most interesting highlight pieces from Christie’s roadshow.

White jade ‘double dragons’ pendant, Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) 11.7cm wide US$190,000-320,000 A highly important and very rare gilt-bronze and silverinlaid seated figure of Buddha Shakyamuni Nepal, early Malla period, 13th century 40cm high Estimate...

Scroll, mounted and framed, ink and colour on paper 129 x 70.5cm Dated 1965 $1.9 million-$2.6 million

Jin Tingbiao (18th century) Scroll, mounted and framed, ink and light colour on paper 135 x 79cm $646,000-$910,000

Colombian emerald and diamond ‘Palmette’ necklace by Edmond Chin for the House of Boghossian $3.6 million-$5 million

Scroll, mounted and framed, ink and colour on paper 39.4 x 43.5cm $65,000-90,000

A very rare and exceptional turquoise-ground pink-enamelled ‘double phoenix’ mallet-shaped vase, Qianlong six-character seal mark in underglaze blue and of the period 17.5cm high $771,000-1,028,000

A jadeite Buddha and diamond pendant $780,000-1,000,000