HONG KONG: Rare Jade jewellery and antiques are set to feature at an upcoming Christie's auction in Hong Kong

A diamond encrusted jewellery set and a set of rare pure white antique jade screens are among the highlights of the upcoming Christie's auction in Hong Kong. The jade necklace, which glistens with diamonds and is mounted in 18 karat white gold, is expected to fetch between 1.5 to 2 million U.S. dollars when it goes under the hammer next week, on November 28. The necklace is part of a set which includes, earrings, a bracelet and a large ring. A second vivid green jade necklace with diamond Cartier clasps is expected to sell for at least 2 million (USD) due to its colour and translucency. "The quality is really the top. The colours are vivid emerald green and the translucent is highly translucent. When you have these two combinations in a piece of Jadeite it's considered the top, top quality," said Vickie Sek, Asia director of Jewellery for Christie's auction house. Pure white antique screens and a white brushpot from a private collection are also expected to attract bids in the millions of dollars. A Chinese cylindrical brushpot from the 1700s is seen as especially rare due to the size of the boulder needed to cut the artefact. It is expected to fetch a world record price for a jade vessel, at an estimated value of more than 1.3 million USD. "For this piece in particular it's the size of the boulder that would have been needed to carve this piece is quite a large size and it's pure white in tone, actually this is very rare to find," said Pola Antebi, Department head of Chinese Works of Art for Christie's. Jade has an elevated history of importance in Chinese culture, and was traditionally seen as more valuable than gold. It has been thought to be imbued with magical powers which protected the human body and conferred immortality. Also on the "must see" list for the auction, are a pair of antique white jade screens, which are translucent with light pouring through the stone. The screens were cut from the same boulder, with detailed workmanship dominating the pieces. But the most expensive piece to sell is expected to be an imperial Beijing enamel glass brushpot, which is only 8.5 centimeters (3.3 inches) in height. The colourful mini-brushpot blends Chinese artistry with western conceptions and is expected to fetch over 3.5 million (USD). Experts say it is the only perfect glass brushpot of this form and decoration known to exist.

ITN Source | November 26, 2007

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