Sotheby’s Asia Week in Hong Kong Reaches New Heights: Nine Highlight Lots Unveiled

This season’s Asia Week began with remarkable success: the dedicated sale of Ming and Qing dynasty fan paintings from the Wanliutang Collection achieved a "white-glove" result, and the Chinese Classical Paintings auction saw a historic record. The standout, a Yuan-dynasty calligraphic scroll "Cursive Script of Essays by Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan" by Rao Jie, sparked over 200 bids and sold for HKD 250 million, making it the most expensive piece of calligraphy in Sotheby’s history.
Building on this momentum, Sotheby’s will present four major sales of Chinese works of art, led by nine exceptional pieces that exemplify the pinnacle of religious devotion, imperial craftsmanship, and artistic refinement:
Buddhist Art
• Gilt-Bronze Four-Armed Mahākāla, Ming Xuande Period
Measuring 74 cm in height, this is the largest known early Ming image of the wrathful protector deity Mahākāla. Commissioned for a Tibetan Buddhist monastery, it originates from the Bodhimanda Foundation and carries an estimate in the tens of millions. All proceeds will support future museum-quality Buddhist exhibitions.
• Relics of the Buddha from the Maurya Dynasty (c. 240–200 BCE)
A sacred ensemble of relics and gems believed to contain cremated remains of the Buddha. Formerly exhibited in New York, Zurich, and Singapore museums, this treasure is a rare and early example of Buddhist devotional art. Estimate upon request.
• Limestone Head of Buddha, Northern Zhou to Sui Dynasty
Once in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art, this serene head shows Gupta influences and a meditative expression symbolic of wisdom and spiritual awakening. Estimated up to HKD 6 million.
Imperial Treasures
• “Immortal Ram” – Attributed to Giuseppe Castiglione and Jin Tingbiao
Painted between 1759 and 1760, this work is a brilliant blend of Western realism and Chinese courtly brushwork. Once hung in the Forbidden City’s Hua Fang Zhai (Studio of Paintings), it reflects the zenith of Qing imperial painting. Estimated at up to HKD 150 million.
• Famille-Rose Bowl with Floral Panels on Purple Ground, Kangxi Period
Featuring seasonal flowers in medallions against a rare “Cassis Purple” ground, the bowl was made in the Imperial workshop using imported enamels and bears the rare "Yuzhi" (Imperial Make) mark. Estimated at HKD 60 million.
• Imperial White Jade Seal with Interlocked Dragon Knob, Qianlong Period
Carved with magnificent twin dragons and inscribed “Qianlong Imperial Brush,” this white jade seal was once in the collection of Emile Guimet, founder of the Musée Guimet in Paris. Estimated up to HKD 80 million.
Refined Porcelains
• Blue and White Olive-Shaped Vase with Flower and Fruit Motif, Yongzheng Period
An elegant silhouette painted with flowering and fruiting branches in vibrant cobalt, this vase showcases the refined aesthetics of the Yongzheng imperial kilns. Estimated up to HKD 25 million.
• Doucai Dish with Bats and Lotus Design, Qianlong Period
Symbolizing blessings and purity, this dish features auspicious motifs painted in harmonious red, blue, and green enamels. Estimated at approximately HKD 12 million.
• Blue and White Stem Cup with Scrolling Lotus, Yongle Period
A classic example of early Ming porcelain, this high-footed cup is delicately painted with lotus scrolls in luminous cobalt blue. Estimated at around HKD 8 million.

Nicolas Chow, Chairman of Sotheby’s Asia, stated: “This season’s offerings not only showcase the pinnacle of imperial and religious craftsmanship, but also reflect centuries of spiritual and artistic heritage. We look forward to witnessing a historic moment alongside collectors worldwide.”
The auction of Chinese art at Sotheby’s Hong Kong will take place on May 8, with expectations running high for new record-breaking results.