Sotheby's London biannual sale of Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, which will take place on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 will present over 250 lots, comprising an important range of sculpture, ceramics and works of art in the wide variety of styles and media for which Chinese works of art are renowned.

One of the most important objects in the forthcoming sale is A Massive Imperial Khotan-Green Jade Seal, Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period (lot 136). Estimated at £400,000-600,000, this superbly carved square seal surmounted by a pair of dragons bears the inscription bazheng maonian zhibao, or ‘treasure of the 80-year old who concerns himself with the eight signs’. It was made for the 55th year of the Emperor Qianlong’s reign, his 80th birthday year. The seal would have been one of several produced to commemorate the birthday, but is the largest recorded of its type. One similar work was offered by Sotheby’s Hong Kong on October 8, 2009, from the Estate of Emile Guimet. The dragons in this example are powerfully carved with eyes bulging and nostrils flaring above jaws bearing sharp teeth; the stone is of a deep fern green with natural veining.

Robert Bradlow, Head of Sotheby’s Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Department, London, said: “In the wake of recent exceptional prices for rare Chinese works of art at Sotheby’s autumn series of sales in Hong Kong, Sotheby’s is delighted with the group of objects we have been able to assemble for sale in London. An Imperial Khotan-Green Jade Seal and a Large Grey Jade Water Buffalo have a similar aesthetic appeal and quality to the objects which were enthusiastically competed for in Hong Kong, and are among an exciting array of porcelains and works of art that we expect will attract old and new collectors alike.”

At Sotheby’s on 8 October 2009 in Hong Kong, an Imperial Khotan-Green Jade Seal estimated at HK$8/12 million sold for HK$16,340,000 / US$2,108,350 / £1,317,307 (lot 1655); also lot 1653, a Massive Imperial Khotan-Green Jade Seal estimated at HK$7/9 million sold for HK$14,100,000 / US$1,819,323 / £1,136,772. One year previously, a similar work to the present example was sold by Sotheby’s Hong Kong from the Estate of Emile Guimet for HK$18,580,000 / US$2,377,683 / £1,358,333.