HONG KONG.- On 29 November 2024, Christie’s Hong Kong presented the “Cosmic Essence – Archaic Jades from the Lantien Shanfang Collection” auction, which offered 75 lots of remarkable archaic jades from the renowned Lantien Shanfang Collection. This standalone, single-owner live auction offered a selection that comprehensively showcased the development of archaic jades in China from 3900 BC to 220 AD. The exceptional quality and rarity of these pieces had been unmatched by anything on the market over the past two decades. This private collection not only exemplifies the beauty of archaic jades, but also offers a glimpse into the cultural development of ancient China for collectors and jade experts alike. The 100% sold auction realised a total of HK$214,778,200 / US$27,738,067, and achieved close to 600% hammer over low estimate. The leading lot, a Jade Openwork 'Longevity' Bi Disc dating to the Mid-Eastern Han Dynasty, Circa 89-144 AD, sold for HK$25,180,000 / US$3,251,934, attracting competitive in-room and online bidding, over 25 times pre-sale low estimate.

Lot 1071. Property from the Lantien Shanfang Collection. A Jade Openwork 'Longevity' Bi Disc, Mid-Eastern Han Dynasty, Circa 89-144 AD; 17.3 cm high. Price realised HKD 25,180,000/ USD 3,251,934, (Estimate HKD 1,000,000 – HKD 2,000,000). © Christie's Images Ltd 2024.

Provenance: Chang Wei-Hwa, Taipei, 14 October 1994

Literature: Teng Shu-p'i.ng, 1999 Collectors' Exhibition of Archaic Chinese Jades, Taipei, 1999, p. 283, no. 197.

Exhibited: The National Palace Museum, 1999 Collectors' Exhibition of Archaic Chinese Jades, Taipei, 1999

Further Highlights include: 

Lot 1068. Property from the Lantien Shanfang Collection. An extremely rare white jade dragon-head ladle, Late Western Han Dynasty - Eastern Han Dynasty, circa 86 BC; 16.8 cm long. Price realised HKD 22,155,000 (Estimate HKD 500,000 – HKD 800,000). © Christie's Images Ltd 2024.

Provenance: Chang Wei-Hwa, Taipei, 2 November 1994

Literature: Teng Shu-p'i.ng, 1999 Collectors' Exhibition of Archaic Chinese Jades, Taipei, 1999, p. 310, no. 219.

Exhibited: The National Palace Museum, 1999 Collectors' Exhibition of Archaic Chinese Jades, Taipei, 1999

Lot 1066. Property from the Lantien Shanfang Collection. A highly important and superbly carved turquoise bixie, Western Han Dynasty, circa 206-8 BC; 10.2 cm long. Price realised HKD 20,945,000 (Estimate HKD 5,000,000 – HKD 7,000,000). © Christie's Images Ltd 2024.

Provenance: Chang Wei-Hwa, Taipei, 2 November 1994

Literature: Teng Shu-p'i.ng, 1999 Collectors' Exhibition of Archaic Chinese Jades, Taipei, 1999, p. 234, no. 153.

Exhibited: The National Palace Museum, 1999 Collectors' Exhibition of Archaic Chinese Jades, Taipei, 1999

Lot 1015. Property from the Lantien Shanfang Collection. An extremely rare white jade 'ancestral-mask' carving, Shijiahe Culture - Xia Dynasty, circa 2500-1600 BC; 8.6 cm long. Price realised HKD 16,105,000 (Estimate HKD 800,000 – HKD 1,500,000). © Christie's Images Ltd 2024.

Provenance: Chang Wei-Hwa, Taipei, 15 December 1994

Literature: Teng Shu-p'i.ng, 1999 Collectors' Exhibition of Archaic Chinese Jades, Taipei, 1999, p. 117, no. 43.

Exhibited: The National Palace Museum, 1999 Collectors' Exhibition of Archaic Chinese Jades, Taipei, 1999

Lot 1066. Property from the Lantien Shanfang Collection. A jade carving of a bixie and winged immortal, Late Western Han - Early Eastern Zhou Dynasty, circa 86 BC - AD 88; 5.5 cm long. Price realised HKD 11,870,000 (Estimate HKD 800,000 – HKD 1,500,000). © Christie's Images Ltd 2024.

Provenance: Chang Wei-Hwa, Taipei, 2 November 1994

Literature: Teng Shu-p'i.ng, 1999 Collectors' Exhibition of Archaic Chinese Jades, Taipei, 1999, p. 233, no. 152.

Exhibited: The National Palace Museum, 1999 Collectors' Exhibition of Archaic Chinese Jades, Taipei, 1999

Note: The concept of winged immortals played an essential role in the Han dynasty belief systems. As Wang Yi writes in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, published circa 124 BC, 'There is a kingdom of flying immortals with feathers, where they do not die. Some say that when one attains the Dao, their body grows feathers.' These feathered beings were regarded as the embodiment of immortality and also as messengers guiding sentient beings and departed souls to ascend to the immortal realm.

Jades carved in the round, depicting a winged immortal riding on an animal, are extremely rare. Other examples illustrating this theme include a white jade carving of a winged immortal riding on a horse discovered at the Mausoleum of Emperor Yuan of late Western Han dynasty, see Zhongguo yuqi quanji-4-Qin, Han, Northern and Southern Dynasties, Hebei, 1993, no. 147; a jade carving of a winged immortal riding on a bixie from the Arthur M. Sackler Collection, National Museum of Asian Art, object number: S1987.26. It is also worth comparing the style of carving with a celadon jade bixie-form stand in the Baoji Municipal Museum, illustrated ibid., no. 264.

Lot 1053. Property from the Lantien Shanfang Collection. A large jade sectioned 'dragon' belt hook, Late Warring States-Early Western Han Dynasty, Circa 300-141; 19 cm long. Price realised HKD 9,571,000 (Estimate HKD 300,000 – HKD 500,000). © Christie's Images Ltd 2024.

Provenance: Chang Wei-Hwa, Taipei, 15 May 1997

Literature: Teng Shu-p'i.ng, 1999 Collectors' Exhibition of Archaic Chinese Jades, Taipei, 1999, p. 265, no. 181.

Exhibited: The National Palace Museum, 1999 Collectors' Exhibition of Archaic Chinese Jades, Taipei, 1999

The results further reinforce Christie’s leading position in the archaic jade market, and our commitment to advancing its development. Over the years, Christie’s has curated exceptional auctions and exhibitions of archaic jade carvings from prestigious private collections, achieving remarkable results. The auction preview received an overwhelming response from collectors and connoisseurs, which saw over 7,000 visitors exploring these rare and significant pieces at The Henderson. The impressive results testify to the highest quality of this renowned private collection, and the strong demand in the market for such pieces. Christie’s is delighted to once again witness the profound resonance and enthusiastic response that exceptional archaic jade collections evoke among collectors.