HONG KONG.- Following the announcement of “The MQJ Collection Special Exhibition” and the book launch of Three Decades of Ming Furniture, Christie’s presents “Eternal Ming – Treasures from The MQJ Collection”, a dedicated auction comprising 15 lots of important classical Ming furniture and tabletop objects. This live auction will be held on 29 November 2024 at The Henderson, Christie’s new Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong.

Taking place during Christie’s inaugural Asian Art Week in Hong Kong in November, this will be the first time that the finest masterpieces from the MQJ Collection are presented at a dedicated auction, reaffirming Christie’s position as the global platform for outstanding Asian art.

Crowned the ‘Queen of Huanghuali’ by collectors, Grace Wu is the world’s leading expert and collector of Ming furniture. Assembled over three decades, the MQJ Collection features the finest and rarest examples of huanghuali and zitan furniture in almost all categories of Ming furniture. Each piece reflects the collector’s profound admiration for the enduring elegance and allure of Ming furniture, the design and form of which transcend boundaries of time and space. The MQJ Collection is unrivalled in quality and rarity. The Special Exhibition of the MQJ Collection, including selected sale highlights, will be on display from 11 to 15 October at Christie’s new Asia Pacific headquarters in The Henderson.

Grace Wu founded The Grace Wu Bruce Gallery in 1987, dealing in Ming furniture. © Christie's Images Ltd 2024.

The sale presents an exquisite selection of 15 exceptional and rare pieces from the MQJ Collection, including a huanghuali incense stand. Sought after for its graceful curves and classical beauty, this huanghuali incense stand features long and slender cabriole legs that are balanced and elegant. While examples with octagonal tops can be found in records from the Ming dynasty, this is one of the only two pieces made of huanghuali. The other piece was previously owned by Wang Shixiang, and is now in the collection of the Shanghai Museum.

A Huanghuali Octagonal Incense Stand. Late Ming (1573-1644). 19 7/8 in. (50.5 cm.) wide, 14 7/8 in. (37.7 cm.) deep, 40 5/8 in. (103.3 cm.) high. Offered in 'Eternal Ming - Treasures from The MQJ Collection' on 29 November 2024 at Christie’s in Hong Kong. © Christie's Images Ltd 2024.

Further highlights include a couch bed Luohan chuang with marble panels, as well as a pair of large square-corner cabinets made of precious huanghuali throughout.

A Huanghuali Couch Bed with Marble Panels, Luohan Chuang. Late Ming (1573-1644). 78 1/8 in. (198.5 cm.) wide, 35 7/16 in. (90 cm.) deep, 38 7/8 in. (98.7 cm.) high; seat high 19 5/16 in. (49 cm.) Offered in 'Eternal Ming - Treasures from The MQJ Collection' on 29 November 2024 at Christie’s in Hong Kong. © Christie's Images Ltd 2024.

This couch bed Luohan Chuang with marble panels is an extremely rare surviving furniture made in huanghuali wood. The poetic panels depict a beautiful natural pattern that resembles scenes of misty mountains. From the butterflied corners, the beautifully-shaped base aprons, to the exquisitely carved drum-shaped spandrel, every detail was masterfully crafted and rarely seen on other pieces, making this bed an iconic Ming furniture masterpiece.

A pair of Huanghuali Square-corner Cabinets. Late Ming (1573-1644). 41 3/8 in. (105 cm.) wide, 24 5/8 in. (62.6 cm.) deep, 73 5/8 in. (187 cm.) high. Offered in 'Eternal Ming - Treasures from The MQJ Collection' on 29 November 2024 at Christie’s in Hong Kong. © Christie's Images Ltd 2024.

This pair of large square-corner cabinets were made of precious huanghuali throughout. These large square shapes with strict, clean lines are subtly decorated with line mouldings and unexpected cusped aprons. These features make them at once powerful and alluring, simple yet refined.

A Huanghuali plant top table, Qiaotouzhuo, with detail view of the joinery. Late Ming dynasty (1573-1644). 78 3/16 in. (198.6 cm.) wide, 18 1/16 in. (45.8 cm.) deep, 35 in. (88.9 cm.) high. Offered in 'Eternal Ming - Treasures from The MQJ Collection' on 29 November 2024 at Christie’s in Hong Kong. © Christie's Images Ltd 2024.

Huanghuali trees grow at an extremely slow rate, and the wood is hard and heavy. It has a natural lustre, warm hues, and dynamic grain patterns that resemble clouds and flowing water. This plank top Qiaotouzhuo table consists of a single-plank top with well-figured wood. There are square section S-braces mortise and tenoned to the legs in a hook and pegged joint. Tables with tops that end with everted flanges usually have recessed legs. Everted end tables with legs at the four corners like the present piece are very rare, with only a few extant examples highly coveted by collectors.

The detail of this Qiaotouzhuo table reflects that the mortise and tenon joint structures of Ming furniture are precisely and meticulously crafted, connecting the parts from different angles in a miraculous yet scientific way.

A Huanghuali musical instrument stand. Late Ming dynasty (1573-1644). 35 7/16 in. (90 cm.) wide, 12 13/16 in. (32.5 cm.) deep, 31 7/8 in. (81 cm.) high when extended; 49 3/8 in. (125.5 cm.) high when folded. Offered in 'Eternal Ming - Treasures from The MQJ Collection' on 29 November 2024 at Christie’s in Hong Kong. © Christie's Images Ltd 2024.

Regarded as the most important one of the “Four Arts of the Scholar”, qin holds an exceptionally significant position. This musical instrument stand is foldable. When opened, it supports the instrument steadily. It is also portable and easy to store when folded. Music instrument stands are seen in woodblock illustrations from Ming publications as well as paintings, but few have survived and are exceptionally rare.