'Chinese Classical Furniture from the Shitou Shuwu Collection' © Christie's Images Ltd 2026

Hong Kong – This spring, Christie's is honoured to present 'Chinese Classical Furniture from the Shitou Shuwu Collection', a dedicated sale to be held on 30 April during Hong Kong Asian Art Week, showcasing 25 lots from one of the most refined and scholarly assemblages of Ming and early Qing‑dynasty furniture to appear on the market in recent decades. Formed over more than three decades by the discreet and deeply learned collector known as the Master of Shitou Shuwu, the collection represents a living legacy of cultural stewardship rooted in 17th‑century literati ideals.

The Master of Shitou Shuwu first developed an interest in classical Chinese art following the landmark 1996 Christie's New York sale of the California-based Museum of Classical Chinese Furniture Collection. His studies and friendship with leading collectors, dealers, and scholars in Taipei and Shanghai – particularly through ArtAsia and under the guidance of the world's leading expert and collector of Ming furniture, Grace Wu – shaped the formation of a collection aligned closely with Ming‑style aesthetics and literati values. The Shitou Shuwu Collection exemplifies the essence of Ming‑style furniture: purity of line, harmonious proportion, superb craftsmanship, and the quiet power of rare woods such as huanghuali and zitan. Many works from the collection were featured in renowned exhibitions, including 'Splendor of Style' (National Museum of History, Taipei, 1999) and 'A Feast for the Eyes' (Chang Foundation, Taipei, 2001), illustrating their scholarly importance and exceptional provenance.

The cover lot of this standalone sale is a rare and important huanghuali horseshoe-back 'grand master' chair and footstool. This chair embodies authority and refinement. Its expanded scale, superb curvature and balance, and dragon-head handgrips indicate elite status. The set's survival with its original footrest is exceptionally rare. Formerly in the renowned T. T. Tsui Collection, it stands as one of the greatest chair forms of its era.

A rare and important huanghuali horseshoe-back 'grand master' chair and footstool, 17th century. Chair: 112.5 cm high; 77 cm wide; 71 cm deep; Stool: 17 cm high; 58.5 cm wide; 36 cm deep. Estimate HK$6,000,000–8,000,000 / US$770,000–1,000,000 © Christie's Images Ltd 2026

Leading sale highlights include a rare zitan scroll-form low qin table, and a magnificent and very rare pair of large huanghuali square‑corner display cabinets, liang'ge gui, each estimated at HK$10,000,000–15,000,000 / US$1,300,000–1,900,000. 

A rare zitan scroll-form low qin table, 16th-17th century, 35 cm high; 162 cm wide; 45 cm deep. Estimate HK$10,000,000–15,000,000 / US$1,300,000–1,900,000 © Christie's Images Ltd 2026

A magnificent and very rare pair of large huanghuali square‑corner display cabinets, liang'ge gui, 17th-18th century, 191 cm high; 122 cm wide; 52.5 cm deep. Estimate HK$10,000,000–15,000,000 / US$1,300,000–1,900,000 © Christie's Images Ltd 2026

This exceptionally rare pair of huanghuali lianggegui display cabinets exemplifies the refined aesthetics of the scholar's studio, featuring tall open shelves for treasured objects above discreet storage. Finely crafted with square‑corner construction, “lotus‑bud” finials and chilong panels, they represent a rare surviving pair of this scale and quality, with only a few comparable examples recorded in major collections and past sales.

Other Sale Highlights

An extremely rare huanghuali bookshelf, liage, 17th-18th century, 199 cm high; 110 cm wide; 41 cm deep. Estimate HK$3,000,000–5,000,000 / US$390,000–640,000 © Christie's Images Ltd 2026

A huanghuali tielimu inset waistless flush cornet leg side table with 'giant arm' braces, 17th century, 82.5 cm high; 145.6 cm wide; 61 cm deep. Estimate HK$2,500,000–3,000,000 / US$330,000–380,000 © Christie's Images Ltd 2026​​​​​​​