WINTER 2025 Editorial

Winter 2025 | MORE FROM THIS ISSUE

Marchant: *One Hundred Years*, written by
Stuart Marchant and edited by Rose Kerr

THIS IS A particularly special season for Marchant, as the respected London-based Asian art gallery is celebrating its centenary. To commemorate this extraordinary milestone, our Winter 2025 issue features “Marchant – One Hundred Years: A Century of Connoisseurship: The Legacy of Marchant in Chinese Art (1925–2025)” by Natalie Marchant, a fascinating exploration of one of the most influential names in Chinese art and antiques. Samuel Marchant’s accompanying article, “Marchant’s Centenary Exhibition: Imperial Porcelain of Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong”, highlights exquisite examples of Chinese imperial porcelain, showcasing their artistic innovation and imperial patronage. It was also my pleasure to interview Stuart Marchant, who traced the remarkable journey of Marchant, offering unprecedented insights into a century of expertise and dedication to preserving China’s artistic heritage. Marchant’s Centenary Exhibition during Asian Art in London (AAL) will offer visitors the unique opportunity to view thirty exceptional works of Qing dynasty porcelain, curated to show the technical brilliance and artistic refinement achieved at the imperial kilns of Jingdezhen between 1662 and 1795. A fully illustrated limited edition exhibition catalogue accompanies the landmark show, featuring detailed entries on all thirty pieces, with historical references and provenance.

I am pleased to announce that the gallery has also published Marchant: One Hundred Years, an extensive and beautifully illustrated two-volume work written by Stuart Marchant and edited by Rose Kerr.

View of the Hong Kong Museum of Art exhibition,
“Engaging Past Wisdom: Min Chiu Society at Sixty-five”

On August 29th, 2025, I was delighted to attend the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) exhibition, “Engaging Past Wisdom: Min Chiu Society at Sixty-five”. Established in 1960, the Min Chiu Society is an internationally acclaimed and prestigious collectors’ group in Hong Kong. In celebration of the 65th anniversary, the HKMoA has collaborated with the Min Chiu Society again to present this exhibition. Featuring over 400 precious items from the collections of more than forty members, the exhibition is the largest edition to date, providing a rare opportunity for the public to appreciate Chinese cultural treasures spanning 5000 years. The exhibits include outstanding Chinese paintings and calligraphy, ceramics, bronzes, lacquerware, jades, bamboo carvings, furniture and snuff bottles.

The articles in this issue by Hilda Mak and Peter Lam present some of the highlights in the exhibition, which runs until January 14th, 2026 at the Special Gallery, on the second floor of the museum. One of the highlight exhibits is the hu ritual vessel of Zhou Zha from the Western Zhou dynasty, which is on display for the first time in Hong Kong. The vessel was originally in the imperial collection of Emperor Qianlong. Other noteworthy exhibits include a jar with phoenix and floral designs in underglaze blue from the Ming dynasty, a rare surviving spinach-green jade “Tributes from Ten Thousand Nations” table screen from the Qing dynasty, an emperor’s robe adorned with gold dragon motifs and the twelve imperial symbols from the Qianlong period, and an intricately carved six-post canopy bed from the late Ming dynasty.

Drs Feng-Chun Ma at the
Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam

On September 27th, 2025, Drs Feng-Chun Ma gave an interesting lecture at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam on the topic of the “Hundred Boys”—a common decorative theme on Chinese ceramics, ivory, bronze, jade and textiles. This motif reflects deep-rooted cultural values in a society where having sons and carrying on the family name were of great importance.

For AAL 2025, Roseberys will present the sale of “1000 Years of 100 Boys in Chinese Art: The Feng-Chun Ma Collection”. Bill Forrest, Director and Head of Department, Chinese, Japanese and Southeast Asian Art, at Roseberys, will give introductions to the collection and will be happy to assist with enquiries. On October 30th at 6 pm, the auction house will host a Winding Stream Party as part of AAL 2025.

Bonhams London will have four live sales, five online sales and a special exhibition at 101 New Bond Street during AAL. On November 3rd at 6 pm, please also join Paul Bromberg, one of our contributing editors, at Bonhams for a book signing of Later Chinese Bronzes for the Scholar’s Studio, which was published earlier this year.

The programme for the 28th edition of AAL looks comprehensive and exciting. I wish the organisers and all the participants a very successful event. Let me lastly take this opportunity to wish readers all the best for the forthcoming festive season.