Chinese Works of Art

T his department offers outstanding masterpieces of Chinese art and antiques, spanning ceramics, jades, furniture, bronzes, sculptures, paintings, and clocks from the Neolithic period through the Qing dynasties. Sotheby’s presents a wide range of significant works across thousands of years of Chinese artistic tradition, attracting collectors, institutions, and connoisseurs from around the world.

Sotheby’s international team has cultivated strong relationships with leading collectors in the field, a trust reflected in the many important private collections entrusted to the department. These include the Dr. Wou Kiuan Collection, the Personal Collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung, the Meiyintang Collection, and works from J.T. Tai & Co. The department has achieved standout results in recent years, including $15.8 million USD for a rare Ming dynasty huanghuali folding horseshoe‑back armchair, $22.6 million USD for a magnificent Qianlong ruby‑ground yancai “trigram” reticulated vase, and $19.5 million USD for an imperial soapstone “Qianlong yulan zhi bao” seal.

Sotheby’s Chinese Works of Art Department conducts live and online auctions throughout the year in New York, London, Paris, and Hong Kong, providing global visibility for exceptional pieces. Through expertise, scholarship, and a long‑established track record of record‑setting sales, Sotheby’s remains a trusted destination for buying and selling important Chinese works of art.