Beijing Chengxuan Autumn Auction will be held on November 8-12 in Hotel Kunlun, which includes seven special sales and four items- Chinese Oil Paintings & Sculptures, Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy, Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, Stamps & Postal History and Coins & Banknotes.
 

Over 600 Chinese painting and calligraphy pieces are divided into three parts-the JieXuan Collection & The Best of Fans Paintings and Calligraphy, Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy (Part I) and Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy (Part II). Many landscape pieces by Zhang Daqian in his late years will be sold, of which the Jianmen was created in 1955 for an exhibition in Tokyo Japan when the painter visited and lived in Japan. The Mount Jianmen is an ultra excellent view in north Sichuan, an ancient pass which was described by Tang's poet Li Bai in his poem What a Hard Path to Cross in Sichuan, and saying that 'one person may defeat a mighty force if he guard the ultra steep Jianmen Pass'. This work layout with a far view and high attitude and mountains presented by Mucun skill, ax-cut like steep cliff on which hanging a waterfall, nearby grove, all are careful and detailed. The audience would feel deep and serene while enjoying it. Zhang's piece is rich and magnificent with obvious aesthetic features of brightness, larges-scale and twists and turns, but everything is in a fine line. Later was his another work the Grand Canyon created in 1962 also in Japan, which depicted a Japan's scenery Grand Canyon, a sense of broadness and straightness, massive color lumps, an excellent expression of deep sharp canyon and fantastic cross rocks, with the skill known as Goucun. The Landscape by Zhang Daqian is another excellent piece created in his late year, in which the road was a landmark construction project in Taiwan 1960s. The painter was invited to attend the opening ceremony of the project completion, but when he went to the site he was touched by the views along the road, then he traveled again the road in 1964 to enjoy the magic-like sceneries and created the Landscape. The large-sized piece is an excellent depiction to cliff and zigzagged roads, a very broad view. The road looks not like the road today with streams of stream of vehicles, but similar an ancient trip path in the mountains preferred especially by ancient litterateurs.
 

On the auction, Fu Baoshi's works are a landscape and a figure drawing, both are his excellent pieces, of which the Rain Cloud was created in 1944, during his gold time known as Jingangpo Phase. Made use of series of skills such as writing, smearing, chopping and pushing and ink sweeping, the painter depicted an outstanding a raining scenery with different width of brush pens, yet, the sage sitting in a pavilion to enjoy raining view, the refined scholar in blue walking on a stone bridge with walking stick followed by a boy in purple, as finishing touch, are very fine, and also present a strange sense. The Poem of Bai Juyi was an object painted by Fu Baoshi time and time again and this piece was formed in 1945. The painter in this work intended to present a cold sense in the autumn, but the figure is fine depicted in details. The painter in fact made use of this image to express his embitterment in the flame of Anti-Japanese because both the poet Bai Juyi and the alme had the same feelings when facing that current political situation.

Two special collection performances for Qi Baishi's , and one of which is provided by the well-known Japan collector Yakichiro Suma, including the works-the Pink Candle, a Win Set, Drinking by the Potted Plum Blossom and Album of Flowers in pure ink-painting style; the another one is provided Lefevre who is a curio dealer and Chinese arts lover, comprises four pieces by Qi Baish, mostly the objects are pines, wisterias and squirrel, amongst which there is an image in which a grey squirrel sitting highly in the pine branches and seeing far, facing audiences with his back, funny and witty. Since 1922 when Mr. CHen Shizeng first brought Qi Baishi's works to Japan to be exhibited, the painter began to become well-known gradually overseas. Oversea collectors in fact are fond of his innovation and rich life atmospheres in his works. For instance, in the Album of Flowers a Japanese critic Suma inscribed 'the most excellent piece of Qi Baishi, dark ink more than colors' to praise the painter. Sure each collector both at home and broad has his own personal different aesthetic trend upon a special piece, that may be also taken as an interesting referee for ourselves of how to appreciate a piece of work.

The Market in The Town created by Wu Guanzhong in 1980s is an excellent piece. The painter is so sensitive to color, dot, line and plane's rhythm so he was able to present a real view in fine details, even a swallow flying in the sky, each windows in the white wall, with his colors, structured layout and forms, color lumps and lines. Why the painter painted everything in detail remains a question worthy us to consider more that is meaningful.

The JieXuan Collection & The Best of Fans Paintings and Calligraphy is based on the fans collected by the oversea owner JieXuan, including 200 fine pieces, amongst which there are works by Qi Baishi, Zhang Daqian, Xu Beihong as well as a big number of modern fan painting and calligraphic works in Shanghai Style, Beijing Style and Tianjing Style. Moreover, meaningfully, there are also some literati fan paintings and calligraphy and fans once owned by celebrities ... ...A compressive show of Chinese fan culture. Of which The Tricolor Amaranth by Qi Baishi who presented his good friend Ziling in 1920s is an exciting piece which can be taken as one of Qi's masterpiece of claborate-style painting of bird and flower. The red tricolor amaranth and black butterflies. What a vivid excellent presentation and depiction to autumn scenery. On the other side is a pure ink-painting, listening to the Sounds from the Forest and Seeing Clouds, elegant and clear, corresponding well with Qi's image. Two Men Under A Pine Tree created by Fu Baoshi in the summer of 1946 for his friend He Zhonglie. Two figures under pine tree, with fans in their hands, relaxed. It was both a nostalgia expression and blessings to his friend. The painter Shi Lu remains the world a few fan painting and calligraphic works, but one of which created in 1962 to present a well-known doctor Jia Kun in Xi'an will be shown on the auction. A typical ink-painting landscape in the front, and on the back is a piece of calligraphy with a kind of strong and steady strokes that may have people acclaimed for his peak perfection. The Cowherd Picture by Xu Beihong in 1930 is a well preserved piece, no color dropped. We are easy to see that the piece with rich layout shows much effort that the painter made upon the piece. More interesting and meaningful are the fan painting and calligraphic pieces owned by the well-known Anti-Japanese War hero and general Song Zheyuan and other two notable patriotic scholars Ma Xiangbo and Zhang Taiyan will be exhibited on the auction at the same time. And the fan by Ma  Xiangbo and Zhang Taiyan depicted the Anti-Japanese Battle of the Great Wall in 1933, a special historical moment worthy every Chinese to remember.

In above mentioned three special performances the well-known modern and contemporary calligraphers and painters are included, such as Li Keran, Pan Tianshou, Pu Xinyu, Shi Lu, Yu Youren, Qian Songyan, Zhou Sicong and so on. Moreover on the auction there are many other objects offered by a number of collectors, too rich to describe here one by one.

The Oil Paintings and Sculptures contains nearly 80 pieces, amongst which the most excellent piece is the Winter painted in 1940 by Pang Xunqin, which is the most complete and clearest masterpiece, and also the rare classic landscape painting of Pang Xunqin.

Pang Xunqin, one of the skippers of modern China Art Movement last century and founder of the Central Academy of Fine Arts (now the Academy of Fine Arts, Qinghua University.) He founded Juelan Society to promote modern art in China when he came back hometown after his study in France. He was once regarded to be a pioneer and founder of China Neo-painting based on the western painting art, so his art style was avant-garde and with strong personal features, trending more upon formal senses and refreshed audiences then. He was a gifted painter with a combination styles of both Paris School and classical art spirit, some gloomy and pure and elegant. From his work we may have an enjoyment of the early merging of the western arts into Chinese culture, which can be taken as a model in early age.

The excellent and mature pieces of Pang Xunqin were created between 1930s and 1940s, but unfortunately most of those are ruined in the war and the Culture Revolution, and the rest are rare. The rest mostly are collected by China National Gallery of Arts or Pang Xunqin Gallery of Art, few private collector has those treasures. This is why the Winter is a great treasure and long desired by collectors.

Chengxuan has always attached more attention to the first generation of Chinese oil painters by discovering and promoting early oil painting arts and painters. This is why on this auction we also have the early painters' pieces exhibited, such as Yan Wenliang, Guan Liang, Yang Qiuren, Hu Shanyu, Qian Ding and Tu Ke. In addition, there will be a piece the Rest by painter Tan Huamu who early studied in Japan and rarely known by people.

Lin Fengmian's Solo is excellent, all sold works on the auction from clear origins and with clear notes. The Reading Lady, a lady in green, completed in 1978 is provided by the painter's goddaughter Ms. Feng Yeh, which was once exhibited in A Retrospective Exhibition of Lin Fengmian in Nineties by Taipei National Museum of History in 1989. The lady in the image may be regarded as an ideal mode desired by the painter, an ultra pure, quiet world full of goodness and loves. Another piece The Lady created in 1940 on the base of the model, his wife, presents his beloved wife in the garden in splendid style, and the work was ever collected by the painter's friend Guan Liang for years. The Lady and Cat, a novel object rarely appeared in Chinese oil paintings, is more interesting. The Still Life is unique in its form. The Landscape is a small piece, but seems richer and more complete rather than a large-sized work in its scenery presentation.


Chengxuan selects the twentieth century Chinese arts for the autumn auction subject to the principle of traditional classics, and contemporary arts subject to the principles of innovation and thoughts. Wish collectors pay more attention to the richness and varieties of the contemporary arts in different narrative language, new concepts and new forms.

The Skull No.21 by Zhang Huan in 2007 is a new type of painting that comprises many materials, all kinds of ashes from temple. The black fundamental color and the major color white are merged into massive grey color lumps, the skull skeletons floating in a fantastic dim smoke and dust, and seem to be lit by a dying light. The Chinese people burning incense to make a vow to the spirits, life facing the king of terrors! What a final struggle of human being by using the smoke sent from incense. Reasonably this piece is meaningful and is deep in thoughts.

Yin Zhaoyang with a constant changed personal style become mature gradually. The painter is bold and active in art exploration. In his early year he brought audiences his Youth Never Coming Back, and later are his well-known pieces the Myth, the Stone, Tiananmen Square, Chairman Mao Zedong, recently he brings us the Spectacle series and the Vortex series. Each his exploration is rational and is clear with his own concept. The Paradise Lost indicates a self-healing but with strong storm-like passion. From his personal experiences, the painter focuses on presenting the dramatic conflict between man and woman in the name of love, from the man and woman in deep love, pleasure and depending on each other to the hate, looting and scuffling condition. Every human creature must release his / her life energy, and love, we'd better call it as human desire more precisely, for it, human being have been expelled from the Paradise forever.

Chinese ancient works of art are culture relics and the witness of history rather than mere art values, and reflection of the aesthetic pursuits and longing of Chinese people in the history. Ceramics & Works of Art on this autumn auction will show and sell about 200 pieces, amongst which there surely are some treasures with clear records of heritage, a close understanding to the charms of Chinese culture.

A Very Rare Blue and White Jar of Yuan Dynasty was once sold by Sotheby's London in 1963, the importance of which can parallel with the blue and white jar collected in Turkey Topkapi Museum, renowned out of the ordinary. A Yong Zheng White-glazed Pear-shaped Vase was originally collected by British Rail Pension Fund, a prominent background, elegant lines all round, exquisitely carved, meticulous, it can be regarded as a sample ceramic work in Emperor Yongzheng Period. A Rare and Fine Black-Green Glazed Bowl of Qian Long Period is a delicately glazed work with special materials, very rare low-temperature glazed work, magic changed colors, from which we may feel the unique high level techniques of royal ceramic art in Qing Dynasty. A Fine and Rare Turquoise-Ground Famille-Rose Tibetan Style Ewer of Qianlong Period, elegant lines and colors all round, delicate. From the article, we may see the great respects of the emperor Qianlong to the Tibetan Buddhism, an important cultural relic to witness multi-ethnic group harmony in China.

Moreover, the entrepreneur Mr. Jiang Zixiang will also offer some of his outstanding collections, of which A Fine Doucai Cup of Yongzheng Period is an article with excellent image, very fine quality, The body is transparent when facing the light, elegant and in pretty refined style, a typical esthetic trend of ceramic arts in Yongzheng Period of Qing Dynasty. A Set of Ten Blue and White Cups of Yongzheng Period, in small shape but very exquisite, the white and blue colors are pure, elegant and free, similar to the style of Chenghua Period in Ming Dynasty.

Come to Ming and Qing Dynasties, Chinese handicrafts reached its peak with unique Chinese culture connotation. A Carved Yellow Tianhuang Stone Seal that will be sold on this auction which comes from a well-known oversea collector, and were once published in early 1990s.The texture of Tianhuang stone is gentle, smooth and very rare. A Carved Rhinoceros Horn Cup is a highly qualified one with very soft and smooth colors. The carved nine Ganoderma Lucidum on the cup presents an auspicious omen and good luck. A Carved Rhinoceros Horn Vessel has a unique shape that Mr. Zhang Qian sits outside the cup and looks leisurely and free. The carving is fine and delicate and is a real masterpiece of horn carved art. A Carved Rhinoceros Horn Dragon Cup which is unique in its standard shape, best-selected material and delicate carving is also a rare treasure.

The autumn auction will also exhibit many articles once owned by celebrities and articles from litterateur studies, which are a good presentation of modern Chinese culture characters. A seal used by the well-known figure Du Yuesheng in Shanghai, made of a large piece of Shoushan stone, with jar ears carved with animal in strong style, packaged in a glass case. Eight seals carved by Fu Baoshi, made of different materials each, and the carving is strong and sharp as the style in Qin and Han Dynasties. And a set of study treasures self-used by the well-known Chinese metal and stone antique collector Jian Jinglun, including a tortoise-shaped ink-stone carved with oracle bone inscriptions sent a special ancient senses, three brush pens made of bear hair and mouse beard, very rare for collectors preferred litterateur study articles.

In addition, there are jadeite censer and cover, white jade pendant, which are a good presentation of what an excellent material used for handicrafts in the Qing Dynasty as well as wonderful design and carving skills.

Excellent handicrafts are a memory of Chinese history and witness of the civilization and Chinese culture is one of the most important cultures of human being around the world. It is believed that the objects of Chinese culture will be the desirable ones for collectors around the world.

In recent years, coins' collection in Chinese mainland has already become hotter and hotter. On each of our auctions in the past coins trade were particularly highlighted and had an astonished trade amount. So each of our spring auction and autumn auction in the future would be more highlighted for the coin trade.

There are nearly 3200 pieces in this coins and stamp sale, of which there is A Silver 50 Taels Sycee, an early ingot of salt tax in the Yuan Dynasty, with very clear inscriptions and original silver color, rare in the world. It must be a treasure for silver coin researchers and collectors.

Two factors are always the key to decide the value of a gold or silver coin: rareness and condition. Chengxuan will sell some rare sorts as follows:
One piece of Anhwei Province, Kuang Hsu Yuan Pao SilverI, marked with 'A.S.T.C', which had never issued formally, merely the trial mintages passed on, very rare. Up till now we can only know of two pieces remained on the world, and the other has been collected in Chang Foundation, Taiwan.

Republic, 15th Year (1926), Chang Tso Lin in Military Uniform Without Cap, a trial product of the Tianjin Mint, unissued. This silver coin has a mirror-like bottom and silver color, fine carving, which can be regarded as a top object of silver coin with figure in the Republic period. These pieces come from an oversea senior collector.

Republic, Sun Yat-Sen, Silver Dollar, Year 21(1932), edged with plum blossom patterns, trial product of the Central Mint of the Republic of China, unissued. It is recorded in relevant documents that the trial products of the coin had different edge decoration included: non-edged coin, trial coin edged with tooth-like pattern, trial coin edged with plum blossom patterns, trial coin with intaglio characters The Republic of China, etc. However, the coin edged with plum blossom pattern is very rare and this piece shown on the autumn auction is the first time emerged on domestic auction. The coin from a senior collector is recorded in the book named Silver Dollars and Taels of China by Zhang Huang.

Amongst modern paper currency and RMB paper currency version I and II on the auction, there are also some treasures. The Commercial Bank of China, 50 Taels, Shanghai Province, 1898, was the first paper currency issued by the first Chinese Commercial Bank, and is very rare till today and we've seen the only one, so it is known as the first paper currency of Chinese Commercial Bank. This piece was a collected piece of collector Mr. Ma Dingxiang and his later generation sold it on 2004 Beijing Spring Auction, and it will be appeared on this autumn auction again. Sure it is a new chance for collectors. And more are one piece of The Deutsch-Asiatische Bank, Specimen 50 Yuan,1907, Shanghai. One piece of Russo-Chinese Bank, Peking, Specimen 100 Taels, 1907, one piece of Bank of China, Uniface Specimen 10 Yuan,1917; and one piece of The Central Bank of Manchuria, 1000 Yuan,1932, all are rare treasures of modern China's currency.

RMB Version I and Version II include a complete set (sixty pieces), one thousand Yuan notes with image of a horse in drinking, five thousand Yuan notes with shepherding image, ten thousand Yuan notes with shepherding image, and ten thousand Yuan notes with camel team, all are rare treasures of currencies that ever circulated.

Stamp Special Performance also include a number of excellences: over 360 items of stamps of the Qing Dynasty, of which there are 1885 Small Dragon Imperf Perforation Stamp 5C, Set of 20, and A Complete Set Non-Perforationed 1C, both in good condition. And entire covers and entire postcards from collector and historian of post Mr.Zhang Kaisheng, most of which were taken as objects published in his work A History of China Postmark. And one piece of 1889 Guangzhou Custom To Chaozhou Custom"Large Custom Bureau" Red Strip Envelop, sealed with Guangzhou Customs, May 30, in English language, a sample early in China.

Stamps of the Republic of China age over 300 items will also on the auction, of which most important pieces are a Stamp On a Registered Letter From Minister Of Xingjiang To Turfan Local Government,1913, with a dragon image, which is regarded a later use sample, and Design Sample Piece Of Commemorative Stamp For The Empire Of China Founding, 1 Yuan, 1916, with image of Taihe Palace, manually made, unissued, no more another piece we've ever seen except the one collected by the philatelist Mr. Fang Lanru.

Stamps issued in the Liberated Area of CPC in recent years become hotter and hotter. On the autumn auction over 200 items of stamps will be exhibited and sold, and some come from Mr. Wu Guohua, a well-known stamp-collector in the country. Of which, we strongly recommend to collectors A Back Surcharged Stamp Sealed By Liaoning Post 250 Yuan/10 Yuan, 1947, appeared in no a directory, A Back Surcharged Stamp Sent From Tang County Of Hebei To Pingding County Of Shanxi, With Characters Anti-Japanese 200 Yuan/12 Yuan 1948, marked with the Third Block Post Office of Tan County and manually filled date, also attached with a receipt by Jinjiluyu District Post Office, double receipts. It's a very rare stamp for stamp-collectors.

The final stamp performance is for stamps in the Republic of China and there is a steady increase trend in connection with commemorative stamp, specially insured stamp and stamps in the Culture Revolution. On this auction, amongst over 279 pieces, the most treasured and splendid one is the stamp "Whole Country is red", marked with 'issue repealed' on the back, and Shanghai Fengxian Store and date of November 26, Shanghai Post, and sealed also by a letter carrier, no color dropped, in good condition. It is really a treasure we never seen during the decade. Apart from this one, there are also several unissued stamps including the Long Live The Complete Success Of The Great Culture Revolution, and the S15 Capital Scenic Spot: Tian'anmen Puts Ray, specially issued, etc.