Chinese Paintings

The Chinese Paintings department at Christie's showcases works spanning the classical, modern and contemporary periods from as early as the 11th century to the present day. Our auctions feature masters such as Su Shi (1037–1101), Wen Zhengming (1470–1559), Zhang Daqian (1899–1983), Fu Baoshi (1904–1965) and Liu Kuo-sung (b. 1932). From striking calligraphic works to exquisite landscapes in brush and ink, auctions offer collectors and connoisseurs the opportunity to acquire works of art that celebrate the historic tradition of painting in China.

Iconic pieces sold at Christie’s include Wood and Rock by Su Shi, which achieved HK$436.6 million / US$59.5 million, making it the most expensive object ever sold by Christie's in Asia. Zhang Daqian’s Temple at the Mountain Peak sold for HK$209.1 million / US$ 27 million, the second-highest price ever achieved for the artist. The Song of the Pipa Player by Fu Baoshi, one of the most important works by the artist, fetched HK$204.8 million / US$26.3 million in a standalone sale.

Christie's has had the great honour of presenting works from various notable private and museum collections, including Six Dragons by Chen Rong from the renowned Fujita Museum collection, which realised US$49 million, 40 times higher than its low estimate, and the Chokaido Museum collection, which was 100% sold and fetched over five times its original estimate. These achievements demonstrate our success in working with large-scale collections.

With a team of specialists in Hong Kong, Beijing and New York, we are dedicated to advising clients on their collections and sourcing works of the finest quality and provenance.