The Facts
On October 29, 2026, Christie's Hong Kong presented three prestigious single-owner collections of Chinese ceramics and works of art, achieving a combined total of HK$737.8 million (US$94 million) across three seasons. The Ai Lian Tang Collection – Gems of the Imperial Capital alone realized HK$214.5 million (US$27.3 million), while The Au Bak Ling Collection Volume III brought HK$140.5 million (US$17.9 million). The top lot of the season was The Imperial Qianlong Gold Ewer, which sold for HK$55.8 million (US$7.1 million). The sales attracted strong international participation, with bidding in the room, by telephone, and online.
The Signal
The three-season collection total of HK$737.8 million establishes the third most valuable Chinese ceramics and works of art single-owner collection ever sold at auction, underscoring sustained collector confidence in high-quality, well-provenanced material. The strong results for the Ai Lian Tang and Au Bak Ling collections signal that the market for imperial Chinese works remains robust, particularly for pieces with distinguished provenance. Christie's, celebrating its 40th anniversary in Asia in 2026, continues to dominate the single-owner collection segment in the region, reinforcing its position as the leading auction house for such sales.
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- Artists: Bada Shanren, Li Keran
- Auction Houses: Christie's
- Locations: Hong Kong
- Prices: HK$737.8M, US$94M, HK$214.5M, US$27.3M, HK$140.5M, US$17.9M, HK$55.8M, US$7.1M, HK$61,900,000, US$7,894,478, HK$12,800,000, US$1,631,265
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