China Trade Houqua Portrait and Imari Porcelain Featured in Timed Christie’s Event

Lam Qua was a Chinese painter famous for his Western-style artworks during the Qing dynasty. Lam Qua’s Canton region paintings often portrayed Chinese and Western merchants. The upcoming Christie’s auction features a portrait painting of wealthy Chinese merchant Houqua by Lam Qua. The available oil painting depicts the Hong merchant in a court robe and necklace. The Canton port appears in the background.

Another highlight of this auction is a Chinese Imari porcelain ewer and basin. The decoration in gold and red with a light blue underglaze was a signature characteristic of Chinese Imari articles. The featured ewer and basin have a nautilus and scallop shell form, respectively. These pieces feature heavy gilt, blue, and red scrollwork and floral patterns. Also showcased are two pairs of foreigner portraits in the style of Qing painter Ding Guanpeng. The color and ink painting on silk depicts inscriptions that describe the sitters. Japanese Arita porcelain ware, famille rose sculptures, and Canton enamel teapots are on offer as well. Interested collectors can explore the entire catalog and register to bid online on Christie’s.