Sotheby's unveils highlights in Hong Kong

Sotheby's gallery in Hong Kong

The Sotheby's preview, which began Monday, showcases 18 highlights from its impressionist and modern art auction to be held in London on February 5th and 6th. Among them is an 1889 Vincent Van Gogh painting, estimated to fetch 10 to 13 million US dollars.

Simon Stock, senior director of impressionist and modern art at Sotheby's, says nobody knows the inspiration behind the painting.

"It is a very touching and quite emotional scene: the baby is now fallen asleep in the warmth of not just the mother's arms but also in the warmth of the fire. Meanwhile, the mother is looking into the fire itself and looking wistfully and thinking about her husband who's gone to sea and when will he return and will he be safe."

Stock says the fact that these works are in Hong Kong first is a reflection of the importance of the Asian market to Sotheby's. And among the most expensive paintings here is an 1897 Camille Pissarro piece, estimated at around 12 to 16 million US dollars.

Sotheby's held its first major auction in Beijing, the Chinese mainland last December. That move has brought the competition between its long-time rival Christie's into one of the world's hottest art markets.

"The market is so global in the field of impressionist and modern art, that we have collectors from all parts of the world, from Europe, Russia, North America, and Asia is increasingly perceived to be a very important and growing market. And that is why we take this part of the world so seriously," Stock said.

The auction preview ends on Thursday and will travel to New York and Cologne, while the selling exhibition continues until January 16th.