Royal craftsmanship and aesthetics intertwine at auction preview

From a cobalt blue-white qinghua bowl from the reign of Emperor Chenghua of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to the calligraphy of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911); from a vivid painting album of the prolific 19th-century artist Ren Xiong to the serene, rainy landscapes of southern China by modern master Wu Guanzhong, the continuation and transformations in royal aesthetics and Chinese art over centuries are reviewed at the preview shows of the Beijing Poly International Auction's autumn sales.

Nearly 4,000 works of arts and crafts are on show until Dec 8. Sales will take place until Dec 10.