Page 76 - Christie's Hong Kong Chinese Paintings May 28 to 29 2022

The Regal Treasures –
A glimpse of works from the
Qing Imperial Collection

Since the establishment of the Qing dynasty, the Manchu
rulers decided early on to Sinicize in order to facilitate their
minority rule over a large Han Chinese population. From
Emperor Kangxi onwards, all princes were required to study
both Manchu and Chinese so as to strengthen the sovereignty.
This spring we have three outstanding treasures from the Qing
court. First is Almanac of the Second Year of the Yongzheng Period
(Lot 869). Handwritten in ink and vermilion by the Bureau of
Astronomy for the Emperor Yongzheng in 1724, this pocket-size
calendar was meant to be a personal belonging of the emperor.
The second treasure is Zhao Mengfu’s Washing Horses as catalogued
in Shiqu Baoji (Lot 868). A few months before his ascension to the
throne, the crown prince Hongli inscribed a long five-character
poem on the frontispiece of his beloved handscroll. Once he
became emperor Qianlong, he ordered the compilation of Shiqu
Baoji where it was officially documented in the Qing imperial
collection. The various imperial seals impressed on it together
with its original imperial mounting, ‘Eight Treasures’ cord and
cord clasp further add value to this masterpiece. Lastly is Grapes
by Empress Dowager Cixi (Lot 870), an elegant composition in
beautiful colours complemented with colophons by four officials.
Rare and seldomly available, these regal treasures are always sought
after by discerning collectors.

帝后珍寶：

清宮舊藏書畫一覽

清朝立國後，一應人文官制悉遵從朱明，即
科舉取士亦如是。以少御多，滿族入關後
的漢化，是適應新環境下作出不可避免的調
整。自康熙以來，諸皇子必須熟習滿、漢文
字，以利皇權之統治。
春拍所見清宮舊藏書畫典籍，按時間順序，
首先是雍正二年(1724)時憲曆，此冊欽天監
朱墨精寫本為上呈雍正御覽，是帝王旦暮
枕藉隨行必閱之書。第二件是乾隆《石渠寶
笈》初編著錄的《洗馬圖》，引首乃乾隆青
宮時期所題五言詩，御極後選入《石渠寶
笈》，鈐“乾隆御覽之寶”諸璽，一應裝池
玉別子包錦，俱是清宮舊裱。第三件乃慈禧
皇太后光緒己丑年(1889)御筆繪製葡萄，枝
葉葡萄秀潤，顏色純正，又兼有四位時臣敬
題，相得益彰。
帝宮舊藏，歷來不易得見，向為藏家視若珍
寶，識者重之。

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