Christie’s spotlights Chinese calligraphy

Christie’s Hong Kong is using its 28 April Fine Chinese Classical Paintings and Calligraphy sale to push classical ink art to the front of its spring calendar. (christies.com) The auction lists 85 lots and is led by *Twin Eagles* by Bada Shanren from an Important Asian Private Collection. Christie’s says the sale also includes *Poem in Running Script* by Ming scholar Wang Shouren. (christies.com 1) (christies.com 2) Other named highlights include Chen Hongshou’s *Gathering of Reclusive Sages and Poetry Drafts*, formerly in the C. C. Wang Family Collection, and two Tang Yin works, *Reading in the Autumn Mountains* and *Mount Nüji*. (christies.com 1) (christies.com 2) The catalog ranges from attributed Song and Yuan material to Ming and Qing masters, including Shen Zhou’s *Magnificent View of the Yangzi River* and a sutra handscroll estimated at HK$2.8 million to HK$3.8 million. (christies.com) Pre-sale estimates compiled by HENI put the auction at about HK$96.64 million, or roughly $12.33 million. HENI identified *Twin Eagles* as the highest-estimated work in the sale. (heni.com) Christie’s has folded the auction into its Hong Kong Asian Art Week, which the house is also using to mark 40 years in Asia. The event page says the wider week includes single-owner collections in Chinese ceramics and works of art alongside the paintings sale. (christies.com) That framing points to a broader spring strategy in Hong Kong: pair trophy classical material with anniversary branding and collection-led selling. Exibart described the sale as a moment when calligraphy and painting are rewriting market taste. (exibart.com) (christies.com) The auction is scheduled for 2 p.m. Hong Kong time on 28 April, with viewing already open and registration closing shortly before the sale. Christie’s is betting that old masters in ink can still command the spotlight in a crowded spring season. (christies.com)