The much anticipated first auction by Poly Huayi (Shanghai) Auction House will kick off this week at Jing'an Shangri-La Hotel Shanghai.
After a year of preparation, this newly established sub-branch of the Beijing Poly Auction will offer nearly 600 objects, including ancient and contemporary artworks from China and the West, as well as jewelry, watches and wine. The estimated value of items set to go under the hammer is 500 million yuan ($71.9 million).
Up for bid will be artworks from Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin, Paul Cezanne, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Marc Chagall, Giorgio Morandi, Anselm Kiefer and Damien Hirst, as well as local names like Wu Guanzhong and Zao Wou-ki.
"Femme sous la Lampe (Jacqueline)" is one of three paintings up for bid by Picasso. It was created in 1962 and depicts the silhouette of Jacqueline, his last lover. Unlike other works created by the master at this time, this one features a light, which reveals the importance of Jacqueline in his remaining days as a source of guidance and inspiration.
A highlight in the ancient Chinese ink-wash painting category is a 12.4-meter-long piece, "Yuan Dynasty Autumn Hunting," found in the royal collection. It shows a minority group in the midst of a hunting scene and is thought to be the largest work of its kind ever discovered.
The painting has a clear provenance and reflects life among China's former royalty in northern China in the 13th century.
Preview
December 21
Auction
December 22
Venue: Jing'an Shangri-la Hotel
Address: 1218 Yan'an Rd M.
