Pearls of the Orient: a tribute to Hong Kong’s discerning collectors

Looking back on Hong Kong’s one hundred and eighty-five years since its beginning as a trading port, one witnesses a transformation both profound and astonishing. From a modest fishing village, the city has blossomed into a bustling financial and cultural metropolis of global significance. Through the tides of time, this city—where East and West intertwine—has nurtured a unique cultural spirit and ecosystem, a cradle for many legends and success stories.

Over the years, Hong Kong has given rise not only to visionary entrepreneurs, but also to outstanding scholars, connoisseurs, and collectors whose quiet devotion has safeguarded our heritage and art masterpieces for generations. This is especially evident in the field of Chinese art. From the magnificent imperial copper-red-decorated and blue and white ‘nine dragons’ meiping of the Qianlong period from the Dawentang Collection, to the rare Cizhou black-glazed sgrafitto vase, yuhuchunping of the Jin dynasty from the Muwen Tang Collection, and the magnificent and rare gilt-copper automatic striking ‘pavilion’ musical clock of the Qianlong period from the Songde Tang Collection, these works exemplify exquisite craftsmanship that is truly breathtaking, and stands as a testament to the connoisseurship and dedication of their proud owners.

The Master of the Dawentang Collection is a distinguished connoisseur and a former two-term Chairman of the renowned Min Chiu Society in Hong Kong. Over the past several decades, he has devoted himself with remarkable dedication to the advancement of appreciation and scholarship of Chinese art in the region. Under his stewardship, the Society organised its 60th and 65th Anniversary Exhibitions at the Hong Kong Museum of Art. He also served as one of the founding members of the Hong Kong Palace Museum’s Acquisition Committee.

Through years of meticulous discernment and steadfast commitment, the Master has assembled an exceptional and wide-ranging collection that embodies the rich legacy of imperial Chinese ceramics. Each work is distinguished by its outstanding quality and provenance. The remarkable pieces presented from the Dawentang Collection stand as a testament to the Master’s unwavering passion for collecting objects of beauty, history, and enduring cultural significance.

Dr Simon Kwan—the collector behind the Muwen Tang Collection—is also a man of remarkable erudition: an esteemed architect, designer, art connoisseur, and collector. As a key member of the Min Chiu Society, his collecting interests span widely. He has published numerous important scholarly volumes on jade, sculpture, gold and silver wares, and notably, Song ceramics, which hold particular significance within the collecting world. The Muwen Tang Collection encompasses ceramic wares from most of the major Song dynasty kilns and is celebrated globally for its systematic breadth, depth, and exceptional completeness. This dedicated sale features several exquisite and rare pieces from the Muwen Tang Collection, dating from the Northern Song and Jin dynasties, all distinguished by their elegant forms, refined presence, and dignified aesthetic.

The Songde Tang Collection was formed between the 1960s and 1990s by Mr Lai Tak, a connoisseur of Chinese ceramics, works of art and paintings. The Lai family had long been engaged in the antiques trade in Guangzhou, and the family descendants grew up steeped in traditional Chinese culture, developing a deep understanding of and passion for Chinese art that placed them among the most respected figures in the field. Born in the 1920s in Mainland China, Mr Lai had a passion for the arts that led him to establish an antiques dealership in the 1950s in Hong Kong. His business, Tai Sing Fine Antiques, became an essential destination for many collectors in Hong Kong. Among the highlights of this sale is a magnificent and rare gilt-copper automatic striking ‘pavilion’ musical clock of the Qianlong period, a superb example from the Songde Tang Collection.

This special sale also features important works from other prominent Hong Kong collectors. As Chi Fan Tsang, Deputy Chairman of Christie’s Asia Pacific, has remarked, ‘For such a relatively small island, it is surprising to encounter so many preeminent collectors of Asian Art in Hong Kong.’ They range from those who made Hong Kong their home such as JM Hu, KS Lo, SC Ko, Ko See-For, TT Tsui, and Robert Chang, to those born in Hong Kong including Au Bak Ling, and the masters of Dawentang, Muwen Tang and Songde Tang, to name but a few. Their legacies will no doubt continue to shape the current and future practices in the collecting culture of Chinese art.

As the leading lights of Hong Kong, their unwavering energy in seeking and sharing of knowledge have always been admirable, particularly through the influential Min Chiu Society which was formed in 1960. ‘The last forty years has seen a massive transformation for the collectors of Hong Kong. Through period of change and crisis, Hong Kong collectors have remained resilient and unwavering. Christie’s Hong Kong is proud to stand alongside these major players.’ observed Chi Fan Tsang. Transferred from Christie’s London to Hong Kong in 1997, Chi Fan has now spent close to three decades in the city. When she first arrived, Christie’s Hong Kong office comprised just over forty colleagues; today, it is a thriving team of around two hundred working together toward a shared vision.

Kevin Ching, Chairman of Christie’s Asia, has long been an integral member of Hong Kong’s collecting community and is himself a member of the Min Chiu Society. Few understand more deeply than he does the contributions Hong Kong collectors have made to the broader cultural ecosystem. ‘It is the unwavering support over the past decades has shaped Christie’s success in the region. Their enduring dedication to collecting has elevated the connoisseurship of Chinese art to new heights and set an exacting standard for generations to follow.’

As we mark the 40th anniversary of Christie’s in Asia, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our collectors whose passion and devotion have preserved countless treasured Chinese works of art, without which this sale would not be possible. As Kevin Ching puts it, ‘it is a tribute to the admirable spirit, heritage and the enduring pride of Hong Kong and its people.’