"8 at 80"
"Monks & Mahasiddhas: Living the Teachings of Buddha"

Previews in Asia
Chengdu: 6-7 March
Shanghai: 21-22 March
Taipei: 11-13 April
Hong Kong: 1-5 May

Auction
Hong Kong • 5 May 2025

Click HERE for Video & Stories

Hong Kong — On 5 May 2025, Bonhams Hong Kong will present two themed sales — 8 at 80 and Monks & Mahasiddhas: Living the Teachings of Buddha — celebrating the milestone of Jules Speelman, one of the world's foremost collectors and dealers of Asian art, having reached the age of 80. This follows the success of Jules Speelman: Completing a Cycle - 60 Years of Devotion, a sale held last June in Paris, which achieved an impressive €15.2 million. The upcoming sales not only highlight Speelman's immense contributions to the art world but also offer collectors a rare opportunity to acquire extraordinary works that represent the pinnacle of Chinese and Himalayan art, reflecting a lifetime of expertise and passion.

The 8 at 80 sale commemorates Speelman's 80th birthday with seven bronze sculptures and one thangka, each representing a distinct and significant period in Chinese and Himalayan art. Meanwhile, the Monks & Mahasiddhas: Living the Teachings of Buddha sale highlights Speelman's enduring fascination with portraits of revered teachers, offering a glimpse into the unique Buddhist tradition of venerating images of masters while celebrating their individuality as authentic individuals.

Selected highlights will tour Chengdu (6-7 March), Shanghai (21-22 March) and Taipei (11-13 April), before returning to Hong Kong for a full preview on 1-5 May 2025 and the auctions on 5 May 2025. More sale details can be found HERE.

Jules Speelman said: "I know that in various cultures [reaching the age of 80] is quite an important date, and it's actually quite an important date for me – the idea of 80 – it's the awareness of one's life mortality [...]. So when I look back at my life, I wouldn't say there is any area which I think I missed out there, didn't I? So that's quite a nice point to get to."

On the subject of the upcoming sale Monks & Mahasiddhas, Speelman added: "Portrait bronzes are rather like photography today, they show everything, warts and all, and therefore I'm looking at how that person looked in those days. The most important thing to remember is every single one is different - just as every single person is different, and that is a fascinating area."

"Jules Speelman is one of the greatest dealers and collectors in Asian and Chinese art,", said Asaph Hyman, Global Head, Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, Bonhams. "We are delighted to have been chosen by Jules Speelman to celebrate his 80th birthday in two landmark sales at Bonhams, which build on the resounding success of Jules Speelman: Completing a Cycle - 60 Years of Devotion – a testament to his exceptional eye for quality and rarity."

80 YEARS OF LEGACY IN ASIAN ART

Jules Speelman began his journey in art dealership in 1964 at just 18, when he joined his late father, Alfred, in the family antiques business. Rather than university, he put himself through rigorous training within museums, examining objects closely—from Saudi Arabian alabaster and Gandharan sculptures to Tompion clocks— which developed his eye for the exceptional early on.

The Speelman family antiques trade spans three generations, originating in 19th century Holland and expanding into England around the turn of the century. Originally, A & J Speelman dealt with antiques, from European ceramics, silver, tapestries, and furniture to Chinese porcelain and works of art. With his father, Jules gradually shifted the focus towards Asia, and under Jules Speelman's skilled direction, A & J Speelman is now regarded as one of the foremost dealers in Asian antiques, particularly in figurative sculpture and works of art from the past 2000 years.

Mark Rasmussen, International Director, Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Art, Bonhams, said: "It has been a great pleasure to handle and research each of the superb pieces offered in these two very special sales and a unique opportunity for collectors to add an extraordinary work of art - rarely seen on the market - to their collection."

Dora Tan, Head of Sale, Specialist, Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Arts, noted: "Asian collectors are a major force in the market, fuelled by growing knowledge and the enthusiasm of a new generation. Presenting this collection in Hong Kong not only offers a rare opportunity to acquire timeless masterpieces but also inspires and deepens the passion of collectors across the region."

SALE HIGHLIGHTS
8 at 80

• A Gilt Copper Alloy Figure of Shakyamuni Buddha as an Ascetic
China, Yuan Dynasty
28 cm (11 in) high
Estimate: HK$8,000,000 – 10,000,000

Rare and important, one of only two similar Yuan gilt bronze examples—the other in the Cleveland Museum of Art. Yuan Dynasty figures are extremely rare, and this powerful piece stands out for its exceptional gilding, fine incised patterns, and the striking contrast between its serene face and ascetic type legs.

• A Gilt Copper Alloy Figure of Padmapani Lokeshvara and Hayagriva
Central Tibet, Densatil Monastery, Circa 1267
27 cm (10-5/8 in) high
Estimate: HK$3,000,000 – 5,000,000

Iconic Densatil piece with unique iconography. This pairing of two figures is distinctive to the Densatil tradition. Both are superbly crafted with exceptional intact gilding, making this the finest known example of its type.

• A Gilt Copper Alloy Figure of Maitreya
Central Tibet, 11th/12th Century
49.3 cm (19-3/8 in) high
Estimate: HK$4,000,000 – 6,000,000

A rare early form, seen only during this brief period, that reflects Indian and Central Asian influences in its modelling and decorations. It represents a fusion of early cultures during the Second Diffusion of Buddhism into Tibet, predating the emergence of Tibet's distinctive local style in the 13th century. It is very rare to find a sizeable gilt-bronze piece of that period in such exceptional condition and quality.

SALE HIGHLIGHTS
Monks and Mahasiddhas: Living the Teachings of Buddha

• A Gilt Copper Alloy Figure of Sakya Pandita
Tibet, Circa 1480-90
With a Tibetan inscription around the foot of the base
33.7 cm (13-1/4 in) high
Estimate: HK$4,000,000 – 6,000,000

• A Gilt Copper Alloy Figure of Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo
Tibet, Circa 1480-90
With a Tibetan inscription around the foot of the base.
32.4 cm (12-3/4 in) high
Estimate: HK$4,000,000 – 6,000,000

These two large gilt-bronze portraits are superlative examples of the important Tibetan historical figures they portray: Sakya Pandita (1182-1251) and Ngorchen Kunga Zangpo (1382-1456). Each bears an inscription that records it is part of a royal commission by the ruler of the Kingdom of Lo in present-day Mustang. The bronzes were created to honour the passing of the Fourth Abbot of Ngor, Gyeltsap Kunga Wangcuk (1424–78). Therefore, as they are among relatively few portable Tibetan artworks that can be narrowly dated according to an inscription, they have great art historical value in addition to their high aesthetic appeal.

• A Parcel-Gilt Silver and Gilt Copper Alloy Figure of Sherab Palden Zangpo
Central Tibet, Second Half of the 15th Century
24.1 cm (9-1/2 in.) high
Estimate: HK$3,000,000 – 5,000,000

Indicated by its inscription, this spectacular heavily cast silver portrait of Sherab Palden Zangpo was produced as a singular commission memorializing the abbot. Identified by inscription, the figure represents Sherab Palden Zangpo (15th century), the 28th abbot of the 'lower' college of Sangphu Ling (also known as Sangpu Neutok), an important monastery in Central Tibet, south of Lhasa.