Highlighting
An Exceptionally Rare and Possibly Unique Robin's-egg Glazed Vase, Tianqiuping
Qianlong Seal Mark and of the Period
- Kept Privately for Half a Century -

Live Auction: 5 May 2025

Hong Kong — On 5 May 2025, Bonhams Hong Kong will present the single-owner sale: Dr. and Mrs. Hu Shih-chang Collection of Chinese Art. Dr. Hu Shih-chang was a pioneering paediatrician in Hong Kong and a renowned collector and scholar of Chinese art. Known for his passion and scholarly dedication, Dr. Hu assembled a diverse collection with a focus on Chinese lacquer. Thirty exceptional pieces spanning the Han, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, will be on offer. Leading the sale are An Exceptionally Rare and Possibly Unique Robin's-Egg Glazed Vase, Tianqiuping, from the Qianlong period, and An Important Carved Cinnabar Lacquer Bowl Stand from the Hongwu to Yongle period. The auctions not only celebrate Dr. Hu's legacy as a collector but also shed light on Hong Kong's early collecting culture.

"We are privileged to be entrusted with the Hu Collection—a testament to connoisseurship and scholarly dedication," said Gigi Yu, Head of Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art at Bonhams Hong Kong. "This auction underscores Bonhams' commitment to presenting distinguished private collections with impeccable provenance, offering collectors a rare opportunity to acquire these exceptional works."

Dr. Hu Shih-chang (1924–2006) graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 1952 before pursuing further studies in the United Kingdom. Upon his return, he became one of Hong Kong's first-generation paediatricians, establishing a distinguished medical career in both public hospitals and private practice. His interest in collecting began in the 1970s, encompassing ceramics, jade, cloisonné, and lacquer. Over time, he directed his focus toward Chinese lacquer, emerging as a leading authority in the field. His collection spans centuries of Chinese art history, including works from the pre-Qin and Han periods through to the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Mrs. Dorcas Hu (1928–2024) played a pivotal role in the couple's collecting journey. Born into a distinguished medical family, she was the daughter of Dr. Zhou Huaizhang, one of the first graduates of the School of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong and a co-founder of the Yeung Wo Nursing Home, which later became the Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital. As former director of the Fung Ping Shan Library at The University of Hong Kong, her rigorous training in librarianship were invaluable in supporting Dr. Hu's scholarly approach of forming their remarkable collection of Chinese art.

Dr. Hu pursued collecting with rigor and discipline, a reflection of his scientific and medical training. Despite the demands of his medical career, he devoted his spare time to the study of antiques and literature. Over the years, he published extensively in esteemed journals such as the National Palace Museum Monthly of Chinese Art, Oriental Art, and Journal of the Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong, making significant contributions to Chinese art history. Additionally, the couple also loaned and donated works to major institutions, including the British Museum and the Art Museum of The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The Hu family's journey as collectors reflects the rise of Hong Kong's art-collecting culture in the 1960s, driven by mainland Chinese entrepreneurs and cultural figures who had relocated to the city. This fusion of Eastern and Western aesthetics shaped Hong Kong's distinctive collecting culture and inspired generations to follow.

Sam Shum, Senior Director of Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art at Bonhams Hong Kong, noted: "Dr. and Mrs. Hu combined their passion for collecting with dedicated scholarship. This sale features treasures built over more than 50 years, including the exceptionally rare Robin's-Egg Glazed Tianqiuping, now making its highly anticipated return to the market – an opportunity not to be missed."

Notably, a short film has been produced by the third son of Dr. and Mrs. Hu exclusively for the auction. He has skillfully integrated his vision both as a commercial director and his personal perspective as their son to realise the concept of the film with fitting narration and script. Evoking the nostalgic charm of Hong Kong's 1970s and 1980s, the film not only reflects on his parents' collecting journey but also celebrates their passion for Chinese art, honouring their legacy with affection and respect. Click HERE to watch the video.

SALE HIGHLIGHTS

• AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE AND IMPORTANT ROBIN'S-EGG GLAZED VASE, TIANQIUPING
Qianlong Seal Mark and of the Period
54.3cm high
Estimate: HK$7,000,000 – 12,000,000

Truly one of a kind and appears to be unique, this Tianqiuping is the largest known example of Qing imperial porcelain with Robin's-egg glaze bearing an impressed Qianlong seal mark. Created early in the reign, it is a Qing Dynasty masterpiece disappeared from public view for nearly half a century, last showcased at the "Monochrome Ceramics of Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties" exhibition, organized by The Min Chiu Society in 1977.

• AN EXQUISITE LARGE CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER BOWL STAND
Hongwu to Yongle, Yongle and Xuande six-character marks
21.4cm wide
Estimate: HK$3,000,000 – 5,000,000

Provenance: Sotheby's London, 13 December 1983, lot 56
Keitaku Takagi (K.T. Lee), Gammon House Art Gallery Ltd., Hong Kong, December 1984

• A CREAM-GLAZED VASE AND COVER
Tang Dynasty
11.4cm high
Estimate: HK$60,000 – 80,000
Provenance: Bluett & Sons Ltd., London, June 1976

• A CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL 'GRAPEVINE' LEYS JAR, ZHADOU
Ming Dynasty, 16th century
10.5cm high
Estimate: HK$120,000 – 180,000
Provenance: Bluett & Sons Ltd, London, Dec 1975

• A FINELY INLAID ZITAN 'THREE RAMS' BOX AND COVER
Qing Dynasty, 18th Century
19.5cm high
Estimate: HK$180,000 – 250,000
Provenance: S H Chan & Co., Hong Kong, Aug 1980

• A BLACK LACQUER MOTHER-OF-PEARL INLAID THREE-TIERED SQUARE BOX AND COVER
Late Yuan to early Ming Dynasty
23.5cm high
Estimate: HK$350,000 – 550,000
Provenance: Keitaku Takagi (K.T. Lee), Gammon House Art Gallery Ltd., Hong Kong, March 1979

Alongside the live sale, an online sale of the Dr. and Mrs. Hu Shih-chang Collection of Chinese Art will take place on Bonhams.com from 1 – 9 May.