At Bonhams, an 18th-century Chinese vase decorated with nine orange dragons is estimated at £300,000-£400,000.

For Asian Art in London, which covers 5,000 years of the region's arts, 47 leading galleries have special shows with works from China, India, Japan, Korea, the Himalayas and Central Asia. The city's 10-day event, through Nov. 12, will celebrate Asia's ceramics, sculpture, painting, furniture, textiles, metalwork, glass, jewelry and manuscripts.

In parallel, Bonhams (Nov. 7-10) and Christie's (Nov. 8-11) will conduct a series of Chinese and Japanese auctions. Sotheby's (Nov. 9) will hold a Chinese ceramics and works of art sale, while Woolley & Wallis will exhibit in London (Nov. 7-8) selections from Asian auctions to be held in its salesrooms in Salisbury, Wiltshire (Nov. 15-17).

One gallery highlight is Eskenazi of Clifford Street's collection of Chinese furniture from circa 1600-1700. Known as huanghuali, the smooth, hardwood furniture is modern, with simple lines and superb craftsmanship. Among the star pieces are a yoke-back armchair and a pair of side tables, each priced in excess of $1 million (€726,866).

A parallel Eskenasi exhibition, "The Twelve Animals of the Zodiac" (2011), presents charming paintings especially created for Eskenazi by contemporary Chinese artist Li Huayi. They portray in a landscape the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

This is the year of the rabbit. The paintings came about after Mr. Li gifted a rabbit painting to Giuseppe Eskenazi, who was born under the sign. The Eskenazi gallery staff was so enamored of the birthday present that they asked the artist to complete the set. All but the rabbit are up for sale, at around $60,000.

Another notable gallery show is Francesca Galloway of Dover Street's "Ivory: Material of Desire," with objects from India and Sri Lanka. An exquisite ivory and tortoiseshell-veneered cabinet designed for storing jewelry, from the late-16th to early-17th century, is priced at £350,000-£450,000. Sam Fogg of Clifford Street also has a notable exhibition in "Drawings from Indian Courts," featuring 45 miniature pieces dating from the 16th to the 19th century. They include a mysterious drawing from circa 1600 of a lady smelling a flower in her right hand while she holds a dagger in her left (price: £20,000), a watercolor from circa 1700 of a princess having a handmaiden comb her luxurious hair (price: £8,000) and an early 19th-century image of a powerful, chestnut stallion (price: £6,000).

Turning to the auction houses, there will be an enormous range of Chinese art. At Bonhams, a delightful, blue-and-white, 16th-century jar decorated with boys at play is estimated at £300,000-£500,000. "It is wonderfully lively. The potter enjoyed himself," says Bonhams Chinese art specialist Colin Sheaf.

A powerful item at Bonhams will be an 18th-century vase decorated with nine aggressive, orange dragons from the reign of the famous, art-loving Qianlong Emperor (estimate: £300,000-£400,000).

At Christie's, a rare 18th-century, blue-and-white vase covered with large exotic blossoms is estimated at £500,000-£700,000. Christie's Chinese specialist Pedram Rasti says that great ceramics bring the highest prices at auction, but other areas such as jade, cloisonné and rhinoceros horn are also bringing "spectacular prices."

Mr. Rasti's personal passion is jade and, he says, there are some notable pieces in his sale. His choices include an 18th-century, very pale celadon, almost white, deep marriage bowl decorated with two fish, estimated at £350,000-£450,000; and an 18th-century, pure-white jade alms bowl decorated with delicate Buddhist carvings, which he describes as "wonderful," at £100,000-£150,000.

For those seeking luminescence, Christie's Chinese catalog cover lot is an 18th-century pair of cloisonné enamel lanterns decorated with herons fishing, symbolizing patience and abundance (estimate: £200,000-£300,000).