Sotheby's Hong Kong Chinese Works of Art Presents a Highly Important Qianlong Emperor Seal

March 29, 2022

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Sotheby’s Hong Kong Chinese Works of Art 2022 Spring Sale Series is led by a highly important and magnificent soapstone seal carved for the Qianlong Emperor, prominently impressed on many of the greatest national treasures of China. The most iconic among all seals destined for art connoisseurship, this superb imperial seal is the highlight of the Hong Kong chapter of the Dr Wou Kiuan Collection, a series of four single-owner sales to held globally throughout 2022.

_{A Highly Important and Exceptional Imperial Soapstone 'Qianlong Yulan Zhi Bao' Seal}

_{7.8 x 7.8 x h. 10.7 cm}

_{Estimate Upon Request}

The most iconic among all seals destined for art connoisseurship, this seal was carved by a master craftsman working for the Qianlong Emperor's father Yongzheng and grandfather Kangxi. It was selected by Qianlong around 1735-1736 for the all-important purpose of recording the finest works in his art collection. It was extensively used from the early years of the Emperor's reign to the completion of the first catalogue of the imperial collection, the Shiqu Baoji, in 1745.

This project of cataloguing and archiving all the extraordinary paintings passed down over the centuries, and having them all impressed with his seal, was a way for the Qianlong Emperor to own Chinese history by leaving his mark on all the works that most profoundly symbolised its glorious heritage, and thus furthering his political legitimacy. The worn characters on the seal face capture all the hundreds and hundreds of embraces this object has had with masterworks of the Imperial collection and testify to the Emperor’s mad devotion for his collection.

The Spring sale is also highlighted by a selection of Imperial porcelains from Joseph Lau’s legendary collection, one of the finest ever assembled in the field. The group features 8 pieces of imperial porcelain which were acquired from some of the greatest collections.

^{An Exceptional and Possibly Unique Large Blue and White ‘Makara Dragon' Jar, Ming Dynasty, Yongle Period}

_{h. 24.4 cm, w. 29.8 cm}

_{Est: HK$45,000,000 - 65,000,000}

^{An Extremely Rare and Superb Blue and White ‘Dragon’ Dish, Mark and Period of Chenghua}

_{16.3 cm}

_{Est: HK$20,000,000 - 30,000,000}

The most iconic among all seals destined for art connoisseurship, this seal was carved by a master craftsman working for the Qianlong Emperor's father Yongzheng and grandfather Kangxi. It was selected by Qianlong around 1735-1736 for the all-important purpose of recording the finest works in his art collection. It was extensively used from the early years of the Emperor's reign to the completion of the first catalogue of the imperial collection, the Shiqu Baoji, in 1745.

This project of cataloguing and archiving all the extraordinary paintings passed down over the centuries, and having them all impressed with his seal, was a way for the Qianlong Emperor to own Chinese history by leaving his mark on all the works that most profoundly symbolised its glorious heritage, and thus furthering his political legitimacy. The worn characters on the seal face capture all the hundreds and hundreds of embraces this object has had with masterworks of the Imperial collection and testify to the Emperor’s mad devotion for his collection.

Adding to this season’s strong line-up of renowned private collections are Qing imperial porcelain from the Marchant Collection, Gardens of Pleasure – Erotic Chinese Art from the Bertholet Collection and Jades from the De An Tang Collection.