Running from September 29-October 2 in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the fair hosts around 90 exhibitors. They bring a selection of impressionist, modern and contemporary art as well as photography, jewellery and antique silver.
ATG has picked out six highlights around the fair to take a closer look at the variety of objects on offer.
Susan Ollemans
This jewelled Bazu band was made in north-eastern India during the 19th century. The rectangular section is set with 30 flat diamonds which fill the spaces between the nine auspicious gems known as the Navaratna. Each of these are at set on one of the cardinal points and at the centre. The back is finely enamelled with flowers and petals in red and blue against a white ground. Susan Ollemans, a London specialist in Mughal and antique gold Indian jewellery, includes it among her offerings.
Boccara Gallery
This tapestry was made in the Ateliers du Faubourg Sain Germain in Paris, c.1660, and in 1667 became part of the collection of King Louis XIV. In the 18th century it was displayed at the Palaces of Versailles and Fontainbleau and is now on offer from Boccara Gallery of Paris and Brussels.
It shows Psyche’s Dinner in the Palace of Cupid, a tale first recorded in Apuleius’ Metamorphoses during the 2nd century. The mythological tale is a love story between the god of love and desire, Cupid, and a mortal beauty, Psyche. In this scene, she has entered a palace and is entertained with a feast that apparently serves itself and music played on an invisible lyre.
Pékin Fine Arts
Pékin Fine Arts features the black and white works of US photojournalist Robin Moyer, who has worked in Asia over five decades. He began at Time-Life publications in 1978 and was Time Magazine’s chief photographer in Asia from 1983-98. This image shows Steps at #24 Caine Road Hong Kong.
Vanderven Oriental Art
Returning exhibitor Vanderven Oriental Art from The Netherlands brings an important group of early Buddhist sculptures, which date from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The two temple guardians, one of which is shown here are fully dressed in armour emphasising their role as protectors of the Buddhist faith. While the guard shown has a combative pose and fierce face, his companion is shown with his hands held together in an expression of introspection.
Haynes Fine Art
Henri Lebasque (1865-1937) was a French post-impressionist painter whose work was informed by his contact with artists such as Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Georges Seurat and Paul Signac, whom he met after moving to Paris in 1886. He was a founding member of the Salon d'Automne with Henri Matisse in 1903 and exhibited at the Salon des Indépendants.
This painting, La Cueillette des Fleurs was completed c.1900 and is offered at the fair by UK gallery Haynes Fine Art.
Koopman Rare Art
Also on offer from a UK gallery is this George IV silver-gilt tray, which is brought by Koopman Rare Art. It was made in London in 1823 by Phillip Rundell, who was appointed goldsmith and jeweller to the king in 1797. The piece bears his maker’s maker and the arms of Lucy quarter Percy for Hugh, the 3rd Duke of Northumberland (1795-1847).
On Tung Jewellery
Hong Kong jewellery dealer On Tung brings a contemporary jadeite ‘Miniature Buddha’ pendant by Wang Junyi. The artist seeks to show that the centuries-old art of jade carving is still relevant today. In 2012, he became the first Jade artist to hold an exhibition at the National Museum of China and in 2014 and show covering 20 years of his creations was held in the Louvre.
The Miniature Buddha is made of delicate, clear jadeite and shows the Amitabha Buddha as an infant. The form suggests that the Buddha’s heart has the purity and perfection of a child’s, expresses his solemnity and celebrates his free and natural spirituality.
