Bonhams Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Auction Realizes HK$26,697,600

The Bonhams Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art auction, in a sale that closed on 28 October 2026, achieved a total realized figure of HK$26,697,600^[1]. According to the official results published by Bonhams, which serves as the result source for the sale, the auction house saw 49 of 64 lots sold, representing a 76.6% sell-through rate^[1]. The sale brought together an array of imperial porcelain, early pottery, and rare furniture, drawing interest from international collectors of classical Chinese art.

Among the prominent offerings was an imperial yellow-ground vase from an important Asian private collection. This vessel is elegantly potted with a full pear-shaped body that tapers gracefully to a flared neck and a gilded rim, all supported on a short footrim. The exterior of the piece is masterfully decorated against a vibrant yellow enamel ground, which is further accentuated by an engraved sgraffiato design. The surface features opulent floral sprays with various luxuriant blossoms, including stylised lotus, anemone, lily, passiflora, pomegranate, honeysuckle, iris, narcissus, rose, aster, peach blossom, and morning glory. Additionally, the shoulder of the vase is encircled by a vivid blue-ground band decorated with lotus blossoms borne on meandering stems. This piece represents the highly detailed yangcai style of the Qianlong period.

Another significant lot was the exceptionally rare Jun purple-splashed bowl, which comes from a distinguished Hong Kong private collection. The bowl is superbly potted with rounded sides that rise from a short, slightly flaring foot to a gently incurved mouth. It is enveloped in an azure glaze, painterly accentuated with generous raspberry-red splashes. The edges of these splashes melt into lavender-toned halos, which are occasionally interspersed with mushroom-toned patches. The unctuous glaze pools slightly above the brown, neatly pared footring, and the countersunk base is similarly glazed. This bowl has a notable provenance, having passed through Spink & Son Ltd. in London and the collection of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth in New York.

The auction also featured a magnificent large sancai-glazed caparisoned horse from the Tang Dynasty, offered as the property of a lady. Standing four-square, the horse is modeled with its head turned to the left, featuring flared nostrils and alert ears. Its muscular, barrel-shaped body is covered in a rich straw glaze, which is accentuated by a long, hogged mane picked out in fine amber stripes. The horse is caparisoned with a green, amber, and straw mottled saddle over a draped saddlecloth, secured by a strap laden with floral medallion plaques. This piece has been documented in several notable collections, including an American private collection, Lam & Co. Antiquities in Hong Kong, and Liyin Oriental Art in Taipei, and was published and exhibited by The Ching Wan Society.

In the furniture category, a zitan and bamboo veneer incense stand from the Qianlong period attracted attention. The stand is deftly modelled with a square top above a reticulated apron decorated with bats and lush scrolls. Its exceptionally high waist is shaped as an architectural pedestal, intricately carved in high relief with archaistic dragon scrolls and centred with a jade floral plaque on both sides. The thickly moulded apron is carved with scrolling ruyi-heads and stylised dragon heads, all raised on four sweeping cabriole legs that curve gracefully outwards before terminating in scroll feet, supported by a matching square floor frame. The wood exhibits a rich, lustrous dark purplish-brown tone with a characteristic fine hair-like grain.

The results of this sale highlight the enduring interest in well-documented Chinese works of art, particularly those with clear provenance and imperial associations. The selection of ceramics, lacquer, and furniture offered in this session reflects the diverse tastes of private collectors, with several key pieces achieving notable results within their estimated ranges.