Chi Fan Tsang, Head of the Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Department at Christie’s Hong Kong, talks us through some of her personal favourites from the Spring 2016 sales and reveals why she feel so passionately about them
‘As specialists, we have this huge database in our minds so we’re actually thinking about the shape, glaze and the overall weight of an object,’ explains Chi Fan Tsang, Head of the Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Department at Christie’s Hong Kong. ‘The first reaction is always very important when looking at an object.’
In this video, which is part of a series to celebrate 30 years of Christie’s in Asia, the specialist looks at a number of standout works offered during the Christie’s Hong Kong 2016 Spring sales, including an important discovery on a thinly potted tray, a Ruzhou celadon washer, an imperial brush pot, and a rare and important white-glazed ‘elephant’ candle stand.
‘In our field we not only deal with Chinese ceramics, but also other materials, such as wood,’ says the specialist, who has 20 years of experience with Christie’s. ‘We also deal with metalwork, lacquer and jades, so it’s very broad-ranging.
‘When I see this wonderful dragon,’ she says of a magnificent, very rare, large blue and white ‘dragon’ jar, guan (1426-1435), which sold for more than $20 million in 30 Years: The Sale on May 30, ‘it always reminds me of where my passion comes from.’