One of China's major auctioneers will host its autumn auctions from Nov. 6 to 7, with a total of nearly 2,000 antiques for bidding, said sources with Beijing Huachen Auctions Co., Ltd. in Beijing Tuesday.

The president of Huachen Auctions, Gan Xuejun, told the press that these antiques range from Chinese paintings and calligraphy, Chinese oil paintings and sculptures, Chinese porcelain, jade carvings and works of art, and jewelry and jadeite.

More than 1,000 pieces of Chinese paintings and calligraphy and more than 120 oil paintings and sculptures have been collected by Huachen, fetching a record scale at all its previous auctions, Gansaid. The works of such top Chinese artists as Qi Baishi and Xu Beihong will also be shown to the collectors.

According to Gan, among all the Chinese porcelains collected by Huachen, several bowls and jars from the Yongle period (1403-1425)of Ming Dynasty, especially a very rare copper-red jar with "dragon" designs, will undoubtedly attract most attention from collectors. This is because the technique of making Chinese porcelains at that time played a significant role in Chinese history.

Huachen is the only auctioneer in China to maintain the item of jewelry and jade for auctions, Gan said. During the autumn auctions, about 180 pieces of jewelry and jade, including 8 jade ornaments from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), will be auctioned.
 
(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2004)