With prices of vintage pu-er boasting a ten-fold jump over a ten-year period, the staple commodity has become China’s liquid gold, emerging as an alternative luxurious investment. Ageing gracefully with time, the value of antique pu-er and other traditional Chinese treasures lies within their historical and cultural significance, standing the test of time and flourishing with age.
The L&H HK Autumn Auction 2022 presents close to 30 lots of the most treasured tea cakes across the globe, along with quintessential pieces of designer teaware from China and Japan, as well as nourishing delicacies unique to Chinese cuisine. Retaining exceptional quality with optimal storage conditions, the collection amasses nearly 600 pieces preserved in dry storage to redefine tea drinking with taste and extravagance.
Extending the Legacy of Hong Kong
Blazing the trail for premium tea, Chinese tea has been sought after for its top-quality leaves, while Hong Kong has served as a vital transit point since the Qing Dynasty, embracing a rich tea-drinking culture. In particular, pu-er has gained extensive popularity across all ages for its unique fragrance and mellow taste.
Hong Kong's love for tea has opened a new chapter in the tea industry, with many prized collectables of today, including the 88 Tea Cake and 8582 Tea Cake, born and sculpted in Hong Kong. This collection features vintage tea cakes which became available to the market after the mid-1990s, marking the boom of the artisanal tea market and the start of the world craze for pu-er tea.
Preserving the Taste of Hong Kong
Headlining the auction is a classic Red Mark from Gam San Lau, one of the traditional tea houses in Hong Kong and a symbol of tea culture, which has witnessed the city’s history stretching over a century and more. Preserving the essence of exceptional craftsmanship, the drinkable antiques have continued to achieve record auction prices, with a stack of five pieces of Gam San Lau Red Mark pu-er tea cake in the 1950s going under the hammer for HK$3.53 million at L&H’s 2019 Spring Auction, equivalent to HK$500,000 per piece, as compared to a single piece of Gam San Lau Red Mark pu-er tea cake valued at HK$1,000 in 1996.
Opening the New Chapter of Hong Kong
Deeply rooted in Hong Kong for the past decade, L&H is the world’s first international vintage pu-er and premium tea auction house, having hosted nearly 20 dedicated sales gathering of the finest and the rarest collectables in the market. Named the ‘First man in China to auction 1 million worth of vintage pu-er tea cake’ by Forbes China, Founder Mr. Henry Chau pioneers the market with a trained team of specialists and a far-reaching consignment network. Dedicated to the philosophy of ‘Greatness Consists in Refinement’, L&H strives to showcase the best of Chinese culture to the world, upholding the principles of ‘high quality, high value and high integrity'.
L&H welcomes tea lovers to co-create a new chapter in Chinese tea culture at the Autumn Auction 2022 with sales highlights including century-old pu-er tea cakes and aged white tea from legendary tea houses. Tea lovers are also welcomed to celebrate and discover tea history through Chinese and Japanese classic designer teaware, as well as nourishing delicacies such as aged tangerine peel.
L&H Autumn Sale 2022 Details:
Preview Dates:
November 19 to 21 (Saturday to Monday)
11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
November 22 (Tuesday)
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Auction Date
November 22 (Tuesday)
2 p.m. – Vintage Pu-er Tea and Premium Tea Auction
4:30 p.m. – Teawares and Agarwood Auction
5 p.m. – Premium Delicacies Auction
Venue
15/F Windsor House 311 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay
*Online auction and phone bidding also available
