Auction in progress / Bonhams
Bonhams Presents the Iconic Speelman Collection of Imperial Chinese Works of Art
Led by a monumental Yuan/Ming gilt-bronze Avalokitesvara and a 1474 documentary bronze deer, the highly anticipated sale is scheduled to end on 28 October 2026.
Leading lots
EstimateHKD 7–9M
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE MONUMENTAL GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF AVALOKITESVARA Yuan/Ming Dynasty
EstimateHKD 7–9M
A MAGNIFICENT AND RARE IMPERIAL CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL FAN-SHAPED PANEL Qianlong
EstimateHKD 4–6M
EstimateHKD 3–4M
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL AND GILT-BRONZE VASE, ZUN Xuande
EstimateHKD 2–3M
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE GOLD GEM-SET FIGURE OF THE 'LOYAL GENERAL' Qianlong (2)
EstimateHKD 2–3M
AN IMPORTANT AND RARE GREEN JADE POURING VESSEL, YI Yuan Dynasty
EstimateHKD 2–3M
EstimateHKD 2–3M
A RARE PAIR OF CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER DISPLAY CABINETS, DUOBAOGE Qianlong (2)
EstimateHKD 2–3M
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE IMPERIAL CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER JADE-INSET TABLE Qianlong
EstimateHKD 2–3M
EstimateHKD 1.5–2.5M
EstimateHKD 1.5–2M
Lot rows show the price fields disclosed in the source record. Lot photography: Courtesy Bonhams.
Contextual data provided by Pricing Culture Analytics; this is not an exhaustive list. Pricing Culture Analytics organizes publicly available auction data to analyze and produce insights.
The market for exceptional Chinese works of art is turning its attention to Bonhams for the ICONIC SPEELMAN sale, which is scheduled to end on 28 October 2026. This highly curated auction brings together remarkable imperial treasures, early bronzes, and rare cloisonné enamels. Among the premier highlights is a massive, superbly cast Yuan/Ming Dynasty gilt-bronze figure of Avalokitesvara, which boasts a notable provenance tracing back to Dr Otto Burchard in Berlin around 1920. Another major focal point is a very large and important documentary bronze figure of a recumbent deer, bearing an incised inscription identifying the maker as Liu Dingzhi and dated precisely to the tenth year of the Chenghua reign (1474). Both of these leading sculptural works carry identical estimates of HK$7,000,000 to[2][3] HK$9,000,000[2][3], representing the pinnacle of the collection's historical and artistic significance.
Auction highlights
Sale file- A VERY LARGE AND IMPORTANT DOCUMENTARY BRONZE FIGURE OF A DEER Dated to the tenth year of the Chenghua reign corresponding to 1474 and of the period | estimate HK$7,000,000 to HK$9,000,000
- AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE MONUMENTAL GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF AVALOKITESVARA Yuan/Ming Dynasty | estimate HK$7,000,000 to HK$9,000,000
- A MAGNIFICENT AND RARE IMPERIAL CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL FAN-SHAPED PANEL Qianlong | estimate HK$4,000,000[5] to[4] HK$6,000,000[4]
- A VERY RARE CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL ARCHAISTIC VESSEL ON STAND AND COVER, GUI Qianlong incised four-character mark and of the period (2) | estimate HK$3,000,000[9][8][7][6] to[5] HK$4,000,000
- AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL AND GILT-BRONZE VASE, ZUN Xuande | estimate HK$2,000,000 to[9][8][7][6] HK$3,000,000
- AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE GOLD GEM-SET FIGURE OF THE 'LOYAL GENERAL' Qianlong (2) | estimate HK$2,000,000 to HK$3,000,000
- AN IMPORTANT AND RARE GREEN JADE POURING VESSEL, YI Yuan Dynasty | estimate HK$2,000,000 to HK$3,000,000
- AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE SET OF FOUR IMPERIAL CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER 'CHILDREN AT PLAY' GARDEN SEATS 18th century (4) | estimate HK$2,000,000 to HK$3,000,000
The sale also features exceptional decorative arts, including a magnificent Qianlong period fan-shaped panel decorated with a gnarled pine bough and a poetic inscription, estimated at HK$4,000,000 to HK$6,000,000. Additionally, a rare cloisonné enamel archaistic gui vessel on a gilded stand, bearing an incised four-character Qianlong mark, is expected to bring between HK$3,000,000 and HK$4,000,000.
This specialized single-owner auction follows several notable successes on Bonhams' Hong Kong calendar. In October, the Fine Chinese Paintings sale achieved a total of HK$48,227,200[1] with 140 lots sold. In September, the house found solid demand for fine wines, with A Gateway to Fine Wine: Distinguished Private Collections realizing HK$7,563,938[1] across 313 lots sold, and The Pursuit of Excellence: The Journey of a Wine Collector realizing HK$7,393,250[1] with 209 lots sold. These specialized sales contribute to Bonhams' broader performance, which has seen the house realize HK$398,472,628[1] year-to-date, maintaining a strong sell-through rate of 86.9%[1].
As the final bidding window approaches for the Speelman collection, collectors will be watching how these rare imperial objects perform against their estimates. The inclusion of highly documented pieces, such as the Chenghua bronze deer and the Yuan/Ming Avalokitesvara, provides a clear measure of market appetite for top-tier Chinese works of art with impeccable provenance.
Sources
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www.bonhams.com
Iconic Speelman - 02
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