Overview
Jointly presented with The Robert Chang Art Education Charitable Foundation
Spanning from 1368 to 1644, the Ming dynasty saw the height of imperial China’s cultural and artistic achievements. Through some of the most iconic works of art made during this period, Christie’s specialists, scholars and collectors will discuss imperial patronage, early globalization and cultural exchanges under this empire of artistic brilliance.
Programme highlights:
• Learn about the collecting and appreciation of arts of the Ming dynasty in the context of art history, early globalization and today’s art market
• A comprehensive guide to the arts of the Ming Dynasty, from paintings to works of art, from imperial patronage to the tradition of the literati
• Understand the value of the masterpieces from the world’s most prestigious museums and those break auction records
Any Questions?
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Schedule
WEEK 1
Ming Blue and White: Cultural Exchange between the Chinese and Islamic Worlds
October 18 | 5:00 – 6:30 pm HKT
Speaker: Dr. Ivy Chan, independent Scholar, Curator and Advisor
Learn about the origin of the iconic blue and white. Dr. Chan, formerly a Christie’s London specialist, will offer both a scholarly introduction and a market survey of blue and white porcelain from the early Ming dynasty.
WEEK 2
The Emperors and their Collecting Legacies
October 25 | 5:00 – 6:30 pm HKT
Speaker: Nixi Cura, Hon. Research Fellow, University of Glasgow
An overview of some of the most influential emperors from the Ming dynasty, highlighting the key artistic achievements under their reign, and how their political agenda, personal taste and collecting interests shaped the development of Chinese art.
WEEK 3
The Pursuit of Artistry: Chinese Porcelains of the Seventeenth Century
November 1 | 5:00 – 6:30 pm HKT
Speaker: Audrey Lee, Associate Specialist, Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Christie’s Asia
Trace the development of Chinese ceramics towards late Ming and early Qing, highlighting the export trade and masterpieces made for the overseas market. Using top lots from Christie’s upcoming autumn auction, the lecture highlights the artistic, historical, and current market value of late Ming porcelain.
WEEK 4
Calligraphy and Painting: The Courtly vs the Scholarly
November 8 | 5:00 – 6:30 pm HKT
Speaker: Sara Mao, Director, Christie's Education Asia Pacific
Learn about two important painting traditions in dynastic China, the imperial court and the literati, as well as the representative masters and their work from each tradition.
WEEK 5 (Pre-recorded)
“King of Ming”: Huanghuali in the Robert Ellsworth Collection
November 15 | 5:00 – 6:30 pm HKT
Speaker: Michelle Cheng, Senior Specialist, VP, Chinese Works of Art, Christie’s New York
Learn about Huanghuali furniture through the landmark auction of the collection of Robert H. Ellsworth in 2015, one of the most important connoisseur and collector of Chinese art. Christie’s New York senior specialist will dive into the factors that contribute to the value of Huanghuali.
WEEK 6
Collector Trophies: Top Lots at Auctions
November 22 | 5:00 – 6:30 pm HKT
Speaker: Sara Mao in conversation with a collector special guest
A collector will share his passion for and expertise in collecting Chinese art. We will also take a look at some of the top lots coming up for Christie’s Hong Kong autumn auction.
*Schedule and topics are subject to change.
Speakers
Dr. Ivy Chan
Independent Scholar, Curator and Advisor
Ivy Chan obtained her MA and PhD in History of Art and Archaeology from SOAS, University of London. She previously worked as a Chinese Art Specialist, Head of Sale and Associate Director at Christie’s London, and has been a regular guest lecturer at Christie's Education since 2015. She is a Council Member of the Oriental Ceramic Society in London, and has participated in curating exhibitions, publishing catalogues, designing educational programmes and lecturing for many museums, galleries and educational institutions, including SOAS, the Museum of East Asian Art, the Hong Kong Palace Museum and Eskenazi Ltd. She has also authored and translated various important publications related to Chinese art and culture.
Nixi Cura
Hon. Research Fellow, University of Glasgow
Nixi Cura did East Asian Studies at Yale University, then specialised in Chinese painting and Buddhist art, with a minor in Romanesque art, at the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University. Her current research interests include Qing art, especially during the Qianlong reign (1736-1795), collecting and antiquarian practices in the Qing, Republican and Manchukuo periods, and contemporary Chinese visual culture. Nixi serves concurrently as Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow and co-founded the Arts of China Consortium.
Audrey Lee
Associate Specialist, Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art
Christie’s Asia
Audrey Lee joined Christie’s Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art department in 2012, first in New York before relocating to the Hong Kong in 2022. Audrey not only orchestrated Christie's first global eCommerce sale, she also worked on many important Asian art collections that turned into landmark sales, including the collection of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth, The Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection, and The Fujita Museum Collection. Audrey holds a Bachelor of Arts in History of Art from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master’s Degree in the History of Art and Archaeology of East Asia from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. Born in the US and raised in Taipei, Audrey is fluent in both Mandarin Chinese and English.
Sara Mao
Director
Christie’s Education Asia Pacific
Sara Mao is the Director for Christie’s Education in Asia Pacific, overseeing the development of programmes and partnerships across Hong Kong, China, and South East Asia. Sara joined Christie’s in 2008 and was appointed Specialist Head of Sale for Chinese Modern Paintings in 2015, and then as Director for Christie’s Education in 2018.
Sara has curated over ten seasons of auctions for some of the most iconic paintings in the field of Chinese paintings, nurturing client relationships with seasoned collectors and new buyers, and leading the growth of the category through securing consignments globally for auction and private sales. She was responsible for spearheading record-breaking sales of Fu Baoshi’s The Song of the Pipa Player for HKD204.8 million, and Zhang Daqian’s Ancient Temples Amidst Clouds for HKD102.4 million, in 2017.
Bringing her specialist experience to education, she currently leads programmes in Asian Art, Art Business and Luxury Connoisseurship, with a focus on Women Artists and Art & Tech. She was the curator for Christie’s Art + Tech Summit “Mixed Realities” in 2019, and co-convenor for Christie’s Education’s first online academic conference “The Chinese Art Market”, in 2020.
Sara is also an auctioneer for Christie’s, supporting numerous charity auctions including Save the Children, Ronald McDonald House, Make a Wish Foundation, The National Kidney Foundation (SNG), and others.
After receiving her B.A. in Philosophy & English Literature at the University of York (UK), Sara acquired her Graduate Diploma in Law from BPP Law School (UK) and a Master of Letters in History of Art and Connoisseurship, with a concentration in Chinese art, from Christie’s Education and the University of Glasgow.
Michelle Cheng
Senior Specialist, VP, Chinese Works of Art
Christie’s New York
Michelle Cheng joined Christie's based in New York in 2011 and specializes in Classical Chinese Furniture. She has led several landmark sales including the Collection of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth, the Collection of Florence and Herbert Irving, and Masterpieces of Early Chinese Gold and Silver. During her time at Christie’s New York, she has built a significant pipeline of business, as well as developed and maintained a broad client network.
Dr. Ivy Chan
Independent Scholar, Curator and Advisor
Ivy Chan obtained her MA and PhD in History of Art and Archaeology from SOAS, University of London. She previously worked as a Chinese Art Specialist, Head of Sale and Associate Director at Christie’s London, and has been a regular guest lecturer at Christie's Education since 2015. She is a Council Member of the Oriental Ceramic Society in London, and has participated in curating exhibitions, publishing catalogues, designing educational programmes and lecturing for many museums, galleries and educational institutions, including SOAS, the Museum of East Asian Art, the Hong Kong Palace Museum and Eskenazi Ltd. She has also authored and translated various important publications related to Chinese art and culture.
After receiving her B.A. in Philosophy & English Literature at the University of York (UK), Sara acquired her Graduate Diploma in Law from BPP Law School (UK) and a Master of Letters in History of Art and Connoisseurship, with a concentration in Chinese art, from Christie’s Education and the University of Glasgow.