Auction in progress / Bonhams
Bonhams Features Imperial Cloisonné and Lacquer in Yang Ming Shan Fang Collection Sale
Led by a monumental tianqiuping estimated up to HK$10,000,000, the single-owner auction highlights centuries of Chinese craftsmanship.
Leading lots
AN EXTREMELY RARE AND LARGE CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL 'DRAGON AND CLOUD' TIANQIUPING Yongzheng/Qianlong
EstimateHKD 7–10M
A VERY RARE CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER 'IMMORTAL' TWO-TIERED COVERED BOX AND STAND Qianlong (4)
EstimateHKD 1.2–1.8M
EstimateHKD 1–1.5M
A VERY RARE CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL 'TREASURES' INCENSE BURNER 14th century (2)
EstimateHKD 0.8–1.2M
A LARGE CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL 'PEONY' PHOENIX-HANDLED MOONFLASK Qianlong (2)
EstimateHKD 0.8–1.2M
A CARVED POLYCHROME LACQUER 'SPRING' BOX AND COVER Qianlong (2)
EstimateHKD 0.8–1.2M
A CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER 'RESTING SCHOLAR' HEXALOBED DISH Ming Dynasty (2)
EstimateHKD 1–1.2M
EstimateHKD 700–900K
A CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER 'DRAGON' CABINET Qianlong (6)
EstimateHKD 650–850K
A RARE CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL PALE-BLUE-GROUND TRIPOD INCENSE BURNER, DING Yuan/Early Ming Dynasty (2)
EstimateHKD 600–800K
A CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER 'IMMORTALS' OCTAGONAL STAND Jiajing (2)
EstimateHKD 500–800K
A RARE CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER 'PEONY' BOX AND COVER Yongle (3)
EstimateHKD 550–750K
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 classical Chinese decorative arts turns its attention to Bonhams for the upcoming sale of Selected Works of Art from the Yang Ming Shan Fang Collection. Scheduled to end on 28 October 2026, the single-owner auction presents a curated selection of imperial cloisonné enamel and deeply carved lacquerware spanning the Ming and Qing dynasties. These objects represent the height of courtly taste, where complex technical execution met highly symbolic decorative programs.
At the forefront of the collection is a monumental tianqiuping from the Yongzheng or Qianlong period. The vessel features a globular body decorated with a ferocious, sapphire-blue-faced dragon striding through radiant, multi-colored clouds. This rare work is accompanied by exceptional examples of cinnabar lacquer, including a two-tiered covered box and stand from the Qianlong period that is finely carved with a central Shoulao medallion and bats. The sale also includes early metalwork, such as a Wanli period cloisonné enamel incense burner decorated with chilong and lingzhi scrolls, and a rare 14th-century cylindrical incense burner featuring two tiers of lotus blossoms enclosing various treasures.
Auction highlights
Sale file- AN EXTREMELY RARE AND LARGE CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL 'DRAGON AND CLOUD' TIANQIUPING Yongzheng/Qianlong | estimate HK$7,000,000[2] to HK$10,000,000[2]
- A VERY RARE CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER 'IMMORTAL' TWO-TIERED COVERED BOX AND STAND Qianlong (4) | estimate HK$1,200,000[3] to HK$1,800,000[3]
- A VERY RARE IMPERIAL CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL 'CHILONG AND LINGZHI' INCENSE BURNER AND A COVER, GUI The incense burner, Wanli six-character enamel mark and of the period, the cover, 18th century (3) | estimate HK$1,000,000[8][4] to HK$1,500,000[4]
- A VERY RARE CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL 'TREASURES' INCENSE BURNER 14th century (2) | estimate HK$800,000[7][6][5] to HK$1,200,000[8][7][6][5]
- A LARGE CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL 'PEONY' PHOENIX-HANDLED MOONFLASK Qianlong (2) | estimate HK$800,000 to HK$1,200,000
- A CARVED POLYCHROME LACQUER 'SPRING' BOX AND COVER Qianlong (2) | estimate HK$800,000 to HK$1,200,000
- A CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER 'RESTING SCHOLAR' HEXALOBED DISH Ming Dynasty (2) | estimate HK$1,000,000 to HK$1,200,000
- AN IMPERIAL BEIJING ENAMEL YELLOW-GROUND SHALLOW ZHADOU AND COVER Qianlong blue-enamel four-character mark and of the period (3) | estimate HK$700,000[9] to HK$900,000[9]
The Yang Ming Shan Fang collection represents a highly focused collecting vision, where provenance and publication history add significant weight to the physical objects. According to the official Bonhams catalog, the sale is scheduled to close on 28 October 2026. The cinnabar lacquer covered box and stand, for instance, was previously sold at Christie's Hong Kong and was published in Zhang Rong's monograph on the Yang Ming Shan Fang collection. Similarly, the 14th-century cloisonné incense burner has a documented history with the London gallery Roger Keverne Ltd. and was previously sold at Bonhams Hong Kong. These histories provide collectors with the necessary confidence regarding authenticity and academic importance.
This specialized single-owner sale follows several notable autumn auctions at Bonhams. In October, the house held its Fine Chinese Paintings sale, which realized HK$48,227,200[1] across 140 lots sold. In September, the house focused on fine wine, with A Gateway to Fine Wine: Distinguished Private Collections realizing HK$7,563,938[1] for 313 lots sold, and The Pursuit of Excellence: The Journey of a Wine Collector realizing HK$7,393,250[1] across 209 lots sold.
These results contribute to a active year for the auction house. Bonhams lists a year-to-date total of HK$398,472,628[1] realized, maintaining a sell-through rate of 86.9%[1]. The upcoming close of the Yang Ming Shan Fang collection will provide a key indicator of demand for high-end Chinese works of art, particularly for rare imperial cloisonné and lacquerware carrying established provenance.
Sources
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