“He loved Chinese culture, wholeheartedly supported Chinese students, devoted himself to collecting Chinese art, and visited China nearly a hundred times in his lifetime. This bond, which transcended oceans and mountains, forever tied him to this land.”

Lang Lang, 28th December 2025

Assembled through decades of joy and discernment, the following collection of Chinese art presents a much overlooked but beloved passion of the late Gary Graffman (1928–2025).

World-renowned for his extraordinary skill at the piano, Graffman began his musical career at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia at the age of seven, where he studied under Isabelle Vengerova and to whence he would return in 1980 as a member of faculty and, by 1995, as the Institute’s presiden

A man of indomitable spirit and passion for music, Graman’s performing career was cut short in 1979 with the development of a debilitating condition in his right hand known as focal dystonia. However, despite his inability to perform with his right hand, Graman’s career and passion for the piano were far from over. Graffman continued to express his passion, honing a remarkable repertoire of left-handed pieces, and forged his ultimate legacy — the cultivation of others.

Today, beyond his countless individual successes, Graffman is most celebrated for the skills he noticed and cultivated in others. Beloved by his students, including Lang Lang, Yuja Wang and Haochen Zhang, Graffman is rightly credited with a dual devotion to the music of the piano and those that play it; nurturing young talent and shaping the internationally celebrated musicians of today.

Less well-known but doubtless inspired by the same academic background and refined sensibility was Graman’s fascination with Asian art. First sparked by his friend and fellow pianist Julius Katchen (1926–1969), Graffman soon became a devoted collector. Initially buying casually in Paris, Graman’s interest continued to develop into a passionate endeavor by his later career, assembling a collection of remarkable breadth, quality and character. Attending courses at Columbia University and traveling to China as early as 1981, Graffman delved into the world of Chinese art with a musician’s combination of intellectual curiosity and passion. The result – the following collection – stands as a testament to the musical giant, his careful eye and untiring devotion to the arts.

Lot 1. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. A blue and white 'lotus' dish, Ming dynasty, Yongle period. Diameter 33.5 cm. Estimate 50,000 - 70,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: Eskenazi Ltd, London, by 1976.

Note; The present dish is a fine example of the technical developments achieved by the early Ming dynasty. Yongle porcelains are characterized by their particularly deep blue cobalt, which fired to a dark deep blue in some parts and pale blue in others. This silvery-black and crystal-like separation of colors is known as the 'heaped and piled' effect, and the intensity of tones was highlighted by the finely potted white body of the porcelain clay.

One of the decorative innovations of early fifteenth-century wares was the use of separate floral sprays or bunches of flowers in the cavettos instead of the continuous scroll. The heavy wreath of lotus or peony found on fourteenth-century dishes gave way to more varied series of formalized motifs. Twelve flower sprays consisting of two sets were commonly repeated in order so that each flower was diametrically opposite its pair. With each flower spray encircled by a circular stem with leaves, the present dish is characteristic of the delicate variety that occurred within Yongle design schemes.

A similar dish in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, is illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, vol. II, London, 1986, pl. 601; another in the Percival David Foundation is published in Oriental Ceramics. The World's Great Collections, 1982, vol. 6, no. 76; one in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, was included in the Special Exhibition of Early Ming Porcelains, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1982, cat. no. 38; a fourth is published in Mayuyama. Seventy Years, vol. 1, Tokyo, 1976, pl. 753; other dishes of this design include two in the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, Stockholm, illustrated in Jan Wirgin, Chinese Ceramics from the Axel and Nora Lundgren Bequest, Stockholm, 1978, pl. 27, no. 25, and one in the Swedish Royal Collection, published in Oriental Ceramics. The World's Great Collections, vol. 8, Tokyo, 1982, pl. 216. An example from the Mottahedeh Collection, illustrated in Michael Howard and John Ayers, China for the West. Chinese Porcelain and Other Decorative Arts for Export, vol. 1, New York, 1978, p. 12, was sold in these rooms, 20th September 2000, lot 105. Another comparable example was on loan to the Gulbenkian Museum of Oriental Art and Archaeology, Durham, sold at Christie's London, 9th November 2004, lot 131 and again in our Hong Kong rooms, 5th October 2016, lot 3630.

The close interaction between China and the Middle East as reflected in blue and white porcelain of the early Ming dynasty is discussed in the exhibition catalogue Ming: 50 Years that Changed China, the British Museum, London, 2014, pp 86-95.

Lot 2. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. An exceedingly rare biscuit-reserved barbed-rim 'Longquan' celadon-glazed 'bear' dish, Yuan dynasty, Yanyou reign, corresponding to 1314-1320. Diameter 12.8 cm. Estimate 6,000 - 8,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: Philippine Private Collection.

Sotheby's London, 27th November 1973, lot 193.

Lot 3. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. . Height 11.1 cm. Estimate A carved 'Longquan' celadon-glazed 'lotus' deep bowl and cover, Southern Song dynasty8,000 - 12,000 USD

Provenance: Collection of Adrian Zecha (b. 1933).Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, 4th October 1974, lot 59.

Lot 4. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. A large molded 'Longquan' celadon-glazed 'twin fish' charger, Early Ming dynasty. Diameter 33.2 cm. Estimatee 5,000 - 7,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: Collection of James M. Plumer (1899-1960).

Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, 7th February 1974, lot 176.

Lot 5. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. A rare molded 'Longquan' celadon-glazed 'Xiniu and Moon' dish, Yuan dynasty. Diameter 14.8 cm. Estimate 20,000 - 30,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: Sotheby's London, 2nd-3rd December 1974, lot 245.

Lot 6. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. A molded and carved 'Longquan' celadon-glazed 'dragon' dish, Yuan dynasty. Diameter 34.6 cm. Estimate 20,000 - 30,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 29th November 1977, lot 8.

Lot 7. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. A 'Jun' green-glazed dish, Northern Song dynasty. Diameter 19.5 cm. Estimate 3,000 - 5,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: Collection of Rosalie Leventritt (1891-1976).

Lot 8. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. A molded 'Shufu' white-glazed 'flower' bowl, Yuan dynasty. Diameter 12.5 cm. Estimate 3,000 - 5,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, 18th June 1980, lot 344

Lot 9. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. A small 'Longquan' celadon-glazed melon-form teapot and cover, Southern Song dynasty. Width 12.4 cm. Estimate 8,000 - 12,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: The Karen Dean Bunting Trust.
Collection of Lord Cunliffe, The Rt. Hon. Rolf, 2nd Baron Cunliffe of Headley (1899-1963).
Bluett & Sons Ltd., London.
Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, 4th June 1982, lot 169.

Lot 10. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. A painted pottery figure of a lokapala, Tang dynasty. Height 67.5 cm. Estimate 6,000 - 8,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: Acquired before 2000.

Lot 11. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. A painted pottery figure of a lokapala, Tang dynasty. Height 63.3 cm. Estimate 4,000 - 6,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: Acquired in Hong Kong, 10th August 1991.

Lot 12. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. A rare pottery figure of a two-headed beast, Northern Wei dynasty. Length 10 cm. Estimate 2,000 - 3,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: Sotheby's New York, 15th June 1983, lot 179.

Lot 13. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. A painted gray pottery figure of an earth spirit, Six Dynasties. Height 28 cm. Estimate 6,000 - 8,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: Sotheby's New York, 15th June 1983, lot 68.

Lot 14. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. A rare painted pottery figure of a foreign dancer, Tang dynasty. Height 26.4 cm, wood stand (2). Estimate 8,000 - 12,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: Acquired in Hong Kong, by 1995.
 

Note: The present work is closely related to several extant examples of Tang-dynasty pottery figures depicting foreigners from south or western Asia, all wearing the same dress and holding a similar pose. Although not visible in the current example, such figures are typically depicted with dark skin, and it has been suggested they depict ‘Kunlun’ boys, an ill-defined group of non-Chinese sometimes employed during the Tang dynasty as pearl divers. Compare the present figure with examples in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Victoria & Albert Museum, illustrated on the Museum’s websites (accession nos. 1981.470.1 and C.827-1936, respectively). See, also, an example formerly from the collection of Dr. S, Marsh Tenney sold at Christie’s New York, 12th December 2018, lot 18.

Lot 15. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. A lead plaque of a lady, Northern Wei dynasty. Height 15.4 cm. Estimate 4,000 - 6,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: J.J. Lally & Co., New York, 25th January 2002.

Lot 16. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. A limestone rat-form weight, Tang dynasty. Length 15.8 cm. Estimate 4,000 - 6,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: Sotheby's New York, 27th November 1990, lot 67

Lot 17. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. A stone relief fragment of a donor, Six Dynasties. Height 14.5 cm, wood stand (2). Estimate 6,000 - 8,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: Mathias Komor, New York, March 1945.
Collection of Pauline B. (1910-2000) and Myron S. (1906-1992) Falk.
Christie's New York, 16th October 2001, lot 218.

Lot 18. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. A 'Yue' celadon-glazed chimera-form vessel, Jin dynasty. Width 18 cm. Estimate 6,000 - 8,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: Sotheby's New York, 3rd December 1986, lot 138

Lot 19. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. A 'Yue' celadon-glazed chimera-form vessel, Jin dynasty. Length 23.5 cm. Estimate 5,000 - 7,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: Sotheby's New York, 3rd December 1986, lot 137.

Lot 20. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. A pair of polychrome 'fish' dishes, Liao dynasty. Diameter 14.8 cm. Estimate 4,000 - 6,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: Sing's Antique Gallery, Hong Kong, 25th July 1996.

Lot 21. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. A green-glazed pottery tripod censer and cover (Boshanlu), Han dynasty. Height 23 cm (2). Estimate 4,000 - 6,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: Sotheby's New York, 18th September 1996, lot 148.

Lot 22. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. Two glazed pottery figures of boars, Tang dynasty. Length of larger 21 cm. Estimate 5,000 - 7,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: Mathias Komor, New York.

Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., New York, 5th-6th November 1952, lot 134.

Sotheby’s New York, 15th-16th September 2015, lot 105.

Lot 23. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. An amber-glazed pottery figure of a boar, Han dynasty. Length 56 cm. Estimate 5,000 - 7,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: Lam & Co., Hong Kong, 23rd April 2001.

Lot 24. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. A straw-glazed pottery figure of a prancing horse, Tang dynasty. Height 40.6 cm. Estimate 10,000 - 15,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: Eskenazi Ltd, London, 12th September 1977.

Lot 25. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. A 'huanghuali' corner leg side table (Tiaozhuo), 17th century. Height 83.5 cm; width 107.3 cm; depth 54.6 cm. Estimate 25,000 - 35,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance: Sotheby's New York, 7th April 1988, lot 455.

Lot 26. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. After Wang Qi, Scholars, ink and color on paper, framed. Height 182.9 cm; Width 106.7 cm. Estimate 1,000 - 2,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance : Collection of Senator Theodore F. Green (1867-1966).

Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, 24th February 1967, lot 249.

Lot 27. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. Attributed to Qian Weicheng, Winter Landscape, ink and color on paper, framed. Height 118 cm; Width 67.7 cm. Estimate 2,000 - 4,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

Provenance : David Newman, London, 3rd March 1976.

Lot 28. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. Zhou Zhilin, Banana Flower in a Ewer, ink and color on paper, hanging scroll. Height 99.8 cm; Width 46.1 cm. Estimate 2,000 - 4,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

signed Yiduo, inscribed with a poem, and two seals of the artist, lin, chen hu, with two other collectors' seals, liu an hua ming you yi cun, yan ting shou cang

Provenance : Christie's Hong Kong, 27th April 1997, lot 136.

Lot 29. Pianist. Mentor. Aesthete. The Collection of Gary Graffman Sold to Benefit the Gary and Naomi Graffman Foundation. Attributed to Dong Qichang, Xing Shu (Running Script), ink on gold-dragon patterned paper, hanging scroll. Height 63.4 cm; Width 31.6 cm. Estimate 3,000 - 6,000 USD © Sotheby's 2026

signed Qichang, dated yihai (1635), the seventh lunar month, with two seals of the artist, dong qi chang, xuan zai shi

Provenance: Sotheby's New York, 3rd June 1985, lot 25.

Sotheby's. Chinese Art, New York, 16 September 2026