The Hartman Collection of Chinese Jades at Christie's Hong Kong

Sunday, 20 August 2006 11:19

London / Hong Kong - Christie’s is delighted to announce the sale of Important Chinese Jades from the Personal Collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, to be held in Hong Kong on 28 November 2006 (Part I) and in Autumn 2007 (Part II).  This exquisite collection garners some of the very best Imperial and magnificent Chinese jade carvings on the market, and is the finest private collection of jades to have come up for auction.

The Hartman collection, which has been meticulously accumulated over a period of more than half a century, spans the history of jade carving in China.  The wide selection of jade pieces come from the Neolithic period through to the Song and Ming dynasties, culminating in those from the golden age of jade carving - the high Qing dynasty of the 17^th/18^th century - with an impressive array of superb flawless white and spinach-green vessels.  The entire collection pays tribute to the wealth of knowledge that the Hartmans have accumulated over the years.

Alan Hartman is an influential and respected second-generation Asian Art dealer and collector, following in the footsteps of his father who was a dealer specializing in Oriental Art in New York.  At the age of 12, Alan Hartman acquired his first jade object, and his passion for the beautiful qualities of jade ever since has become evident.  Together with his wife, Simone, whose artistic taste complements his vast experience in the field, the couple has formed what is undoubtedly one of the finest collections of Imperial jades in private hands.

In the first part of the sale to take place in 2006, over 100 exceptional pieces will be brought to centre-stage.  Among the highlights on view in London in July are exquisite Imperial jade carvings from the Qianlong period (1736-1795) of the highest quality material and finest craftsmanship which were made for the Emperor or for the Imperial Court. 

Each piece in the collection has been carefully selected for its color, quality of the stone and exquisite workmanship.  The top lot is an extremely rare Imperial white jade libation cup (Estimate: HK$10,000,000-15,000,000).  The exterior is intricately carved to depict a landscape scene of Suzhou which is ingeniously composed to harmonize the uniqueness of its form.  It is truly a breathtaking virtuoso exemplifying the highest level of expertise achieved by Imperial lapidaries of the 18th Century.

This remarkable vessel reproduces the classical form of rhinoceros horn libation cups from the 17th century.  Whilst examples of these cups are known in porcelain and bamboo, this piece appears to be the only one of this form represented in jade. 

Equally noteworthy is a magnificent white jade vase (Estimate: HK$5,000,000-7,000,000).  This vessel in slender baluster form is carved with cicada blades at the neck and base, and shuang xi or ‘double happiness’ medallions at the shoulders, while the body is draped with dragon-like motifs.  Carved from jade of the highest quality, its almost flawless white color is captivating.

A white jade vase and cover (Estimate: HK$5,000,000-7,000,000) has a flattened pear-shaped body carved with a dragon and cloud medallion enclosed by phoenix.  The combination of dragon and phoenix is derived from Daoist iconography and represents sagacity, long life and benevolence. 

Another highlight is a spinach-green jade brushpot (Estimate: HK$3,000,000-4,000,000).  Supported on five ruyi -shaped feet, the cylindrical vessel is intricately carved in relief with continuous scene of figures and pavilions nestled in a craggy mountain landscape.  The Imperial poem to one side summarizes the scene of sages under a Wutong tree in a fenced landscape.

Highlights from the collection have been exhibited in the Moscow Fine Art Fair, at Christie's London and Christie’s Paris.  Pre-sale exhibitions will also be held in New York, Geneva, Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei and Hong Kong.. The entire personal collection of Alan and Simone Hartman was published in 1996 in a catalogue by Robert Kleiner which stands as one of the finest published collections of jade.

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