October auction spotlights high-ticket Chinese works

An extremely fine and rare large blue and white "Eight Immortals" vase and cover. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Sotheby's major autumn sales in Hong Kong will present several Chinese antiques and artworks with high presale estimates. The auctions will take place from Oct 1 to 5.

Modern ink master Zhang Daqian (1899-1983)'s pocai painting Sage by the Pine will be auctioned. The novel approach of pocai was invented by Zhang in the late years of his career when the artist suffered sight deterioration. He skipped meticulous details of subject matter but instead splashed ink and color on paper to achieve an abstract and grand effect.

Although the Chinese art market is suffering a slowdown, Zhang's paintings register a stable performance in salerooms. His pocai landscape Peach Blossom Spring fetched $34.7 million in Sotheby's Hong Kong sale in April.

Another highlight is a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) blue-and-white vase bearing a pattern of the "eight immortals" tale and a Qianlong period seal mark.

Porcelains produced by the official kilns during the three Qing emperors in succession — Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong — are highly sought among buyers.

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