Overview
Arts of China experienced unprecedented visual and technological innovation in the Qing dynasty. Today, its imperial ware is one of the most sought-after Chinese art categories by collectors, commanding some of the highest prices at auctions.
Led by renowned art historians and Christie’s specialists, this 7-week virtual course guides you to appreciate the multifaceted world of Qing dynasty art.
From Chinese ceramics to paintings, scholars objects to furniture, participants will gain a practical understanding of its historical context, aesthetic development, as well as the factors that determine the value of art in today’s market.
This course will also cover the changes in tastes and trends in collecting Qing dynasty art from then to present day.
Uniquely, this course emphasizes on the personal taste and patronage of the legendary Qing emperors Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong, highlighting the tradition of connoisseurship and collecting in the history of Chinese art.
Learning objectives
After this course, you will learn:
- The art historical context, from imperial patronage to early globalization, for appreciating the arts of the Qing dynasty.
- Key themes, concepts and terminology in relation to the connoisseurship of imperial ware, from ceramics and cloisonné enamel, to jade carvings and lacquerware.
- Factors that determine the value of Chinese art in today’s global art market, from calligraphy and painting, to ceramics and works of art.
- Collecting stories and trends, from the personal tastes of the Qing emperors to the diverse visions of modern day collectors.
About Robert Chang Art Education Charitable Foundation
The Robert Chang Art Education Charitable Foundation aims to support the promotion of Asian Art education to a wider audience. Our partnership builds on existing programmes at Christie’s Education, enabling conversations with scholars and academics, and focused programmes on Chinese Works of Art, Chinese Paintings, as well as developing Asian contemporary art. The foundation also offers a selected number of full-time students to join the programmes on a complimentary basis.
Schedule
WEEK 1
Imperial Taste and Chinese Art: The Collecting Legacy of Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong Emperors
April 4 | 5:00 – 6:30 pm HKT
Speaker: Nixi Cura, Hon. Research Fellow, University of Glasgow
WEEK 2
China and the World through Five Iconic Objects
April 11 | 5:00 – 6:30 pm HKT
Speaker: Nixi Cura, Hon. Research Fellow, University of Glasgow
WEEK 3
Determinants of Value: Imperial Ceramics
April 18 | 5:00 – 6:30 pm HKT
Speaker: Nixi Cura, Hon. Research Fellow, University of Glasgow
WEEK 4
Determinants of Value: Jade Carvings, Bamboo Carvings and Mother-of-Pearl-Inlaid Lacquerware
April 25 | 5:00 – 6:30 pm HKT
Speaker: Dr. Ivy Chan, Independent Scholar, Curator and Advisor
WEEK 5
Buddhist Art Under the Empire: From Gilt-Bronze to Thangka
May 2 | 5:00 – 6:30 pm HKT
Speaker: Nixi Cura, Hon. Research Fellow, University of Glasgow
WEEK 6
Determinants of Value: Paintings and Calligraphy
May 9 | 5:00 – 6:30 pm HKT
Speaker: Sara Mao, Director, Christie's Education Asia Pacific
WEEK 7
Collecting Stories: Important Collections at Auctions
May 16 | 5:00 – 6:30 pm HKT
Speaker: Sara Mao, Director, Christie's Education Asia Pacific
*Schedule and topics are subject to change.
Speakers
Nixi Cura
Hon. Research Fellow, University of Glasgow
Nixi Cura is Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Culture & Creative Arts, University of Glasgow. Previously she taught Chinese art history and archaeology as Senior Teaching Fellow at SOAS University of London and for over a decade directed the Arts of China postgraduate programme at Christie's Education/University of Glasgow. Nixi read 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.
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.
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.
