Chinese ink masterpieces go under the hammer at 2018 Poly Autumn Auction

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Three Chinese ink paintings by Chinese master painters will be highlighted at the upcoming Poly Autumn Auction - one of the biggest annual auction fairs in China. The auction is celebrating its 13th anniversary with a stunning collection of rare items, with equally stunning price tags.

A preview of the three Chinese ink paintings took place at Beijing's Four Seasons Hotel on Monday.

Among the most prized is "Warm Pond in Spring" - one of the most representative works of Chinese ink master Pan Tianshou. Pan was known for creating large classic Chinese ink paintings that convey scholarly elegance and grandeur.

Pan Tianshou's painting "Warm Pond in Spring" on display at Beijing's Four Seasons Hotel. /CGTN photo

The 2.5-meter-long painting depicts a water buffalo resting in a pond framed by rocks, bushes and flowers. The painting sold for over 20 million yuan in an auction in 2009. It's expected to fetch a new record prize at this upcoming auction.

A work of Chinese famed artist Wu Guanzhong's will also be on sale. Entitled "Two Swallows", the work consists of two ink paintings.

Wu Guanzhong's painting "Two Swallows" on display at Beijing's Four Seasons Hotel. /CGTN photo

Wu said the paintings were his most representative work that depicts the scene of a water town in southern China.

They fetched 46 million yuan at Poly's Spring Auction in 2011 and many said the work will also set a new record deal this year.

An oil painting on display at Beijing's Four Seasons Hotel. /CGTN photo

A good number of items will be on sale in the next few days, covering various kinds of Chinese artwork from paintings and calligraphy to antiques.

Zhao Xu, executive director of Poly International Auction Co., Ltd. said the number of items on sale this year is smaller but of high quality: "Compared with our spring auction this year, we reduced the number of items by 30 percent this time, but we selected many precious ones. We are confident about achieving a good sales record this autumn."

Poly's autumn sales reached about 4.3 billion yuan last year - a record high since its inception. It's yet to be seen whether this year's autumn fair can ride on the momentum of its previous session on sales record.