Asian Art | Knightsbridge | 12-13 May
Collector's Treasures: Asian Art Online I 12-19 May
Scholarly Gems from the Collection of Mr & Mrs Gerard Hawthorn | New Bond Street | 14 May
Instinct & Knowledge: A Life in the Company of Song Ceramics | New Bond Street | 15 May
Fine Chinese Art | New Bond Street | 15 May
Collector's Treasures: Asian Art Online, 12-19 May

London – Bonhams had an extraordinary Asian Art Week from 12-19 May 2025 at New Bond Street and Knightsbridge totalling £10,700,000 across the five sales.

Asaph Hyman, Global Head, Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, said:
"True collecting joy and connoisseurship triumphed at Bonhams London. This was beautifully illustrated in the wonderful photograph of the late Emmanuel Christofides holding the Cizhou meiping vase, which went on to sell, with all 28 pieces from his collection for a staggering price. The pieces boasted superb provenance and the rarest of quality, which were greatly admired by collectors worldwide, with the collection selling 5 times its pre-sale estimate. We now look forward to the important Elsa Peretti Ge Washer, Song/Yuan dynasty, which will be offered in Paris on June 11th.

"The collection of Gerard and Elvina Hawthorn also exceeded all expectations by doubling the estimate. Gerard was one of the pillars of the London art trade as well as a collector, and the enthusiasm for this sale conveyed the reverance for his highly regarded expertise in the field of Chinese Scholars' works of art. We are very grateful to the family who have entrusted us, and indeed to all the enthusiastic collectors worldwide."

Instinct & Knowledge: A Life in the Company of Song Ceramics
London, New Bond Street | 15 May

The week showcased a series of magnificent collections, including a White-Glove sale of Song Ceramics from a lifelong collector, the late Emmanuel Christofides. The 28-lot sale made £5,246,000, and provided the top lot of the week: a Junyao light-blue-glazed bowl, Northern Song/early Jin Dynasty which made £1,016,400, against an estimate of £80,000-120,000.

Other highlights were:

• An exceptionally impressive Cizhou Sgraffiato Black and White Peony-Pattern vase, Meiping from the Late Northern Song/early Jin Dynasty which achieved £825,900 against an estimate of £70,000-120,000.

• A magnificent Longquan 'Kinuta' bowl, that made £762,400 against an estimate of £80,000-120,000. This piece that displayed a very particular shade of glaze that emulates jade, was acquired by Christofides from the well-known London dealers Spink and Son.

• A Yaozhou relief-carved flower-pattern jar, five dynasties, which sold for £737,000 against an estimate of £60,000 - 80,000.

Scholarly Gems from the Collection of Mr & Mrs Gerard Hawthorn
London, New Bond Street | 14 May

A superb collection of scholar's works of art from renowned dealer and collectors Gerard and Elvina Hawthorn achieved £1,337,662 which was double the estimate.

The top lot for this 94-lot sale, was A Korean scroll painting of a lady and child before a robe stand, (18th century) that achieved £305,200, against an estimate of £15,000 - 20,000.

Other highlights include:

• A remarkable and extremely rare Zitan 'scholars' rectangular box and cover that achieved £203,600, against an estimate of £30,000 - 50,000. The present lot belongs to a select group of inlaid boxes typically crafted from precious zitan wood. Distinguished by its exceptional craftsmanship, the quality of the inlay strongly suggests it may be the work of the celebrated Ming dynasty master carver Zhou Zhu.

• A Carved Bamboo 'Budai and Immortal' brushpot, Bitong 17th century. Sold for £76,600 (Estimate: £4,000 - 6,000)

• A fine and large cloisonné enamel and gilt-bronze vase, Yenyen, Qianlong that made £70,250 (Estimate £30,000 - 50,000)

Fine Chinese Art
London, New Bond Street | 15 May

The 130-lot Fine Chinese Art Sale also had some astonishing results, with three Fine China Trade Paintings from the collection of Martyn Gregory by the Cantonese artist Spoilum (active 1770-1805) amongst the top 10 for the sale.

• A rare blue and white 'dragon' jardinière Qianlong seal mark and of the period sold for £152,800 (Estimate: £10,000 - 15,000).

• A rare Yaozhou relief-carved flower-pattern jar made £102,000 (Estimate £40,000 - 60,000).

• Spoilum (Active 1770-1805) Portrait of William Read of Philadelphia achieved £89,300 (Estimate £25,000 - 30,000).

Asian Art
London, Knightsbridge | 12 May

The two-day Asian Art Sale at Bonhams Knightsbridge made double its estimate, totalling £1,327,630.

Rachel Hyman, Department Director said: "The live and online sales had a wealth of excellent works and increasingly major collectors are sourcing acquisitions from our Knightsbridge sales. The Embroidered Waterfall Panels from the Meiji period were much appreciated during the view so it was no surprise that the bidding was so enthusiastic. We are delighted with the results."

Among the highlights of the 439-lot sale were:

• A pair of fine and rare embroidered 'waterfall' panels, Japan, Meiji period. These panels are finely embroidered with silk threads using sashi-nui (long and short stitches) to depict mountainous landscapes with waterfalls, meandering streams, and dense plantations. The scale and artistic perfection of these embroideries reflect the recognition achieved by the Kyoto textile producers internationally in the late 19th century - more than one-third of the textile entries at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition came from Kyoto. Sold for £79,140 (Estimate: £8,000 - 12,000)

• A gilt bronze figure of Begtse Chen 18/19th century. Sold for £70,250 (Estimate £6,000 - 8,000)

• A fine Kesi green-ground semi-formal court robe, 19th century
A semi-formal court attire for women, made for auspicious celebrations and decorated with floral roundels containing peonies surrounded by bajixiang and floral sprays. Sold for £32,000 (Estimate: £3,000 - 5,000).

Collector's Treasures: Asian Art Online I 12-19 May

This 233-lot sale Collector's Treasures: Asian Art Online achieved £303,040.Notable lots included paintings such as Food Stall in Wa Quong by William Prinsep which made £28,160 (estimate £3,000 – 4,000) and View of the Inner Harbour, Macau c.1830 which sold for £19,200 (estimate 3,000 – 4,000).

20 May 2025