Chinese artwork expected to fetch 100 mln RMB at auction

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At least eight renowned Chinese traditional paintings, calligraphy works, as well as antiques and ceramics are expected to fetch over 100 million RMB (about 15 million US dollars) when they go under the hammer in Beijing on Saturday.

A preview of the listed items took place at the National Agricultural Exhibition Center on Thursday. The items will be auctioned off at the 2017 Poly Autumn Auction.

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The event is celebrating its 12th anniversary with a stunning collection of rare items, with equally stunning price tags.

"A good amount of items will be on sale in the next few days, covering various kinds of Chinese artwork," said Zhao Xu, executive director of the auction company. "Eight of them have an estimated price of over 100 million yuan each."

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Among the most prized items is an album of paintings by the renowned Chinese artist Qi Baishi, a Chinese painting master who specialized in flowers, plants and landscapes.

Entitled "Twelve Screens of Landscape," the album is regarded as the artist's greatest achievement.

"Many of the artworks are really precious, including the masterpiece "Twelve Screens of Landscape" by Qi Baishi. The paintings are not only the most important artworks of the master, but also one of the most extraordinary items at this year's auction. Many other Chinese artworks are also appealing, and have essential places in Chinese art circles," Zhao Xu said.

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Other items expected to fetch a record prize include "Turkeys," a painting by 16th-century Italian painter Giuseppe Castiglione, who served as a court painter in China's Qing Dynasty.

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The auction runs from Dec. 16 to 20 in the nation's capital. The auction house remains in first place among domestic large-scale art vendors, and boasts the top transaction volume of any in China.