The Palmer Family Collection is one of the most important private European collections of Chinese art in our Spring auction. Amassed from the late 19th to early 20th centuries across multiple generations, this collection truly demonstrates the passion and appreciation of art by the informed collectors, and it has been widely exhibited and published, from the landmark exhibition of Chinese Art at the Royal Academy in London in 1935, to other significant exhibitions held by world-renowned Oriental Ceramics Society in London. This sale comprises 63 lots that are representative of this remarkable collection, including examples of Imperial Qing porcelains, classic Ming blue and white porcelains, early ceramics, metalworks, painted enamels, and jade carvings.
To complement this sale, Christie’s Education will host a complimentary programme introducing the development of Chinese art collecting activities in the late 19th and early 20th century Britain. Through specialist lectures and handling session, you will learn about the story and the key pieces of this remarkable collection.
Marco Almeida SVP, Senior International Specialist, Head of Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Department, Christie’s Asia Pacific
Marco joined Christie’s London in 2008, as a Specialist, having worked at another auction house for seven years.
Born in Brazil and educated in Europe, Marco is fluent in English, Portuguese, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. Marco holds a MA in History of Art and Archaeology from SOAS, University of London.
With a deep passion and interest for jade carvings and Imperial porcelain from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Marco has brought many masterpieces to the market and also important collections, the most recent being the Heveningham Hall Collection of Classical Chinese furniture, sold in Hong Kong in 2021.
Audrey Lee Associate Specialist, Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Christie’s Asia Pacific
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 BA in History of Art from the University of California, Berkeley and a MA 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 across Hong Kong, China, and South East Asia. Sara joined Christie’s in 2008 as a Junior Specialist Trainee.
Sara has curated over ten seasons of auctions for some of the most iconic paintings and important collections in the field. Sara is also an auctioneer for Christie’s, and supports 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.