Christie's first auction to be held in Shanghai

LONDON - The world's leading art dealer Christie's is expected to held its first auction in China's mainland on September 26 to put 42 art works under the hammer.

The art works on the auction to be held at Jing An Shangri-La Hotel in East China's Shanghai city, will cover many collecting fields, from Asian Contemporary to European Modern Masters and American Post-War and Contemporary, to jewelry, watches, wine and decorative arts.

The auction will be highlighted with Asian Contemporary including Zeng Fanzhi's Bicycle and the celebrated, monumental series of sculptures, Clothes Veins Studies by Jianguo Sui, as well as Western masterworks including a contemplative 1963 still-life by Giorgio Morandi and Pablo Picasso's 1969 Homme Assis, as well as Andy Warhol's glittering Diamond Dust Shoes of 1980-81 and Alexander Calder's mesmerising Black: 2-2-6.

The total value of the auctioned works is estimated at 100 million yuan in Chinese currency RMB, or $16 million, said Christie's.

According to sources with Christie's, it will also organize other activities during the period including private sale exhibitions, a three-day cultural gala and lectures on topics related to artists and art markets.

The private sale exhibitions will feature art pieces from different categories, including Chinese Contemporary Ink, Impressionist and Modern Art, Post-War and Contemporary, and jewelry.

Several masterpiece exhibitions will also be organized during this period, Christie's disclosed.

Steven P. Murphy, chief executive officer of Christie's, said, "Christie's is honored to be hosting a week of activities in Shanghai for art collectors and enthusiasts to enjoy. Our events in Shanghai go far beyond a beautifully curated auction which lends a fascinating dialogue between arts and cultures of the world."

Murphy extended invitations to global art community to take part in the Shanghai Christie's auction both in person and virtually via Christies.com as many of the events will be broadcast live from Shanghai.