Earlier this year, one of the most celebrated collections of Chinese porcelain ever came up for auction in Hong Kong. The collection includes a huge variety of pieces, dating from the Tang Dynasty through to the Ming and Qing periods. Its true highlights, however, stem from the reign of Yongle, the third Ming emperor. One of these – a rare blue and white moon flask – sold for more than HK$110 million. In total, some HK$502 million was raised by the sale of this incredible collection.
According to a number of experts, the moon flask appeared to have been designed especially for the royal court. Unusually, it was decorated with a complex geometric pattern, clearly influenced by the art of the Islamic World. The early 14th century was a time of significant artistic cross-fertilisation between the Middle East and China. A related geometric pattern from an early 14th century Quran painted in Iran, for instance, shows examples of a typically Chinese lotus scroll.
The collection had been built up by – British-born – Roger Pilkington. He bought the porcelain over the course of a lifetime, before it was passed on to his family when he died back in 1969.
Describing the collection, Nicolas Chow, the Deputy Chairman of Sotheby’s Asia, said: “This extraordinary sale was a tribute to one of the most astute collectors of Chinese ceramics there has ever been.” According to Chow, after the sale he celebrated with the Pilkington family well into the small hours. And well they might.