A collection of Chinese porcelain is set to be auctioned in Hong Kong next month, China Daily reported. The collection highlights the golden period of Chinese art collecting in Britain. Chinese mainland buyers are expected to attend the event to scout fresh cultural goods.
The collection contains about 100 ceramics as well as other works of art from multiple Chinese dynasties, including Song (960-1279), Ming (1368-1644), and early Qing (1644-1911). All of the pieces are estimated to have a combined worth of over HK$225 million ($28.8 million).
Roger Pilkington, a member of a glassmaking family based in Lancashire, organized the whole collection, which will be exhibited in the spring auctions running from April 2-6.
One of the most active British art collectors, Pilkington has an inventory of Chinese art that covers about 1,000 years of Chinese porcelain-making. Some of his oldest pieces date back to the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618-907)
"For anyone who is interested in the Chinese art market, what is important to know is that England played a central role particularly in developing the market for pure porcelain," said Nicolas Chow, deputy chairman of Sotheby's Asia, in an interview with China Daily.
Through the foundation of the Oriental Ceramic Society in London back in 1921, interest in Chinese art bloomed across the country. Prominent art collectors include Alfred Clark and Sir Percival David.
Pilkington, on the other hand, was part of the second generation of art collectors enamored with Chinese art after the Second World War. Through the help of Chinese antique dealers in London, he was able to build his extensive art collection. He died in 1969 at the age of 40.
Through a 10-year period of collecting, Pilkington built a "strong collection that shows the high standards and character of English collection" of his time, said Chow.