Antique ceramics to go under the hammer

From the monochromatic pots of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) to the cobalt-blue qinghua plates of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), and the vibrant, colorful ceramics of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, the late Hong Kong collector Au Bak-ling built a varied, rich assembly of vintage porcelains in tribute to the brilliance of Chinese craftsmen.

Dozens of fine examples from his collection, largely acquired between the 1970s and 1990s, will go under the hammer in Hong Kong later this month at one of Christie's sales.

Au's interest in Chinese tradition and culture stemmed from his teens when he helped at his father's bookstore, and this interest expanded to encompass other cultural areas throughout his life. A previous auction of items from his ceramics collection was held last year.

In addition to ceramics from Au's collection, objects of antiquity from other important private collections will also be auctioned in Hong Kong.