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BBC News
26-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Rare Chinese antiques in Heathfield home sell for more than £130k
Two rare Chinese antiques more than 300 years old and part of a family collection in East Sussex have been sold for a combined £135,500. The vase and wine pitcher were from the reign of the Kangxi Emperor (1661 to 1722) and were bought by art connoisseur and philanthropist William Cleverley Alexander in 1907 and items had been in Mr Alexander's private collection at his country home in Heathfield Park for more than a Axford, chairman of the auction house Woolley & Wallis, said the family were "delighted" with the auction result on Tuesday. He added: "What the sale really shows is the importance of history and provenance - collectors prize provenance very highly."The vase, which has a rare underglaze decorated with two squirrels hiding in a fruiting grapevine, was sold to a buyer in the Far East for £94,500 against an estimate of £20,000-£30,000. The pitcher was sold for £41,000 to a European buyer against an estimate of £4,000-£6, Axford said: "This shows despite the economic and political troubles in the world, really good items remain highly desirable." He explained ceramic wares modelled in the form of characters like the wine pitcher were a "remarkable" innovation of the Kangxi period - an era of stability following the collapse of the Ming Dynasty. He added the pitcher was a "particularly decorative example". It has a blue Buddhist lion finial, an unusually long neck and moulded as the combined Chinese characters of Fu (good fortune) and Shou (longevity). There were various uses for wine pitchers of this period, including ritualistic, ceremonial or funerary use. "They were were created to literally 'toast' the dead and some for more practical usage," Mr Axford added. Mr Alexander (1840-1916), who was also a banker, was credited for popularising Asian art in Britain during the Victorian into a wealthy family, he used his financial resources to amass an impressive collection of Asian patronage of arts supported emerging artists of the time, including James McNeill Whistler who was famous for his painting Whistler's Mother. According to the auction house, Mr Alexander bought the wine pitcher for £45 from William Dickinson & Son in 1907. He then bought the vase from antiques dealer John Sparks on June 1913 for just £30.
Globe and Mail
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
2025 Jilin City Marathon Kicks Off, Celebrating Athletic Spirit and Community Engagement with Exciting Events
On May 18, the 2025 Hogood Coffee Jilin City Marathon officially started at People's Square. The 42.195-kilometer course weaves together the ecological tapestry of "One River, Two Banks," as 30,000 runners measure the poetic landscapes of this northern river city with their footsteps. At 7:30 AM, leaders and guests attending the opening ceremony jointly fired the starting gun for the first wave of runners. This year's event introduced a staggered starting system, enhancing safety and competitive experience through precise zoning and timed starts. All participants were scientifically divided into six assembly areas based on their registered events and historical performance, launching in three waves. Twenty minutes after the first wave of marathon runners from zones S, A, and B started, half marathon runners from zones C and D began their race at 7:50 AM with the second starting gun. The third wave for mini runners in zone E sounded at 8:15 AM. Desheng Gate is the starting point of the Jilin City Marathon route. This ancient city gate has witnessed the departure of warriors in the past and symbolizes the victorious return of competitors. When the starting gun fires, the footsteps of the athletes resonate with the historical and cultural essence of Jilin City. Coincidentally, the event took place on International Museum Day, with the marathon route forming a dynamic map for exploring the "City of Museums." Along the way, runners can retrace the steps of the Kangxi Emperor at Ying'en Gate, visit the residence of Zhang Zuoxiang, a symbol of national resistance, explore the Museum of Ginseng, which nurtures the local essence, and see the Manchu Museum and Jilin Confucius Temple, as well as the Jilin System Museum and Zhang Lianshan's residence, among other museums and historical sites scattered throughout the city. Runners will experience the ancient charm of Xituanshan Culture, immersing themselves in a city with over 2,200 years of history, accompanied by the melodious tones of "Peking Opera's Second Hometown." They will run along the banks of the Songhua River, where green willows sway, cross various bridges spanning the river, and enjoy the picturesque early summer scenery, feeling the vitality of the city as the sun rises and sets. The entire city comes alive for the Jilin City Marathon. Natural landscapes, cultural relics, and warm-hearted citizens together depict the hospitable and enterprising spirit of this northern river city. The Jilin City Marathon is technically certified by the Chinese Athletics Association and is hosted by the municipal government and provincial sports bureau, with the municipal sports bureau and sports federation organizing the event. The marathon features the classic scenic loop around the Songhua River and includes three events: the marathon (42.195 kilometers), half marathon (21.0975 kilometers), and mini run (5 kilometers). In addition to inviting athletes ranked in the world's top 100, 29 elite international athletes are also participating. The participation of high-level domestic and international athletes made the competition particularly fierce and ignited passion throughout the journey. After more than two hours of intense competition, the top three finishers in the men's full marathon crossed the finish line consecutively. Kenyan athlete Ezra Kipketer Tanui claimed the championship, while Ethiopian runners Bare Zeku Aserfa and Tadu Abate Demek took the second and third places, respectively. In the women's full marathon, the champion was Ethiopian athlete Afila Geffei Berha, with fellow Ethiopian runners Chernet Misgano Takle and Mal Diababa Husa finishing second and third. Among the Chinese participants, the top three in the men's group were Guan Yousheng, Wang Jiahao, and Wang Hongwei, while the women's group was led by Zhu Qing, Huang Fei, and Yao Yuzhou. In the men's half marathon, all three top finishers were Chinese: Wang Mingcheng, Yang Xiaoqian, and Zhou Shibo. The women's half marathon also saw all top three finishers from China: Tang Xiaofen, Yin Xiaoyu, and Li Jingjue. The inaugural Jilin City Marathon was rated as a bronze event by the Chinese Athletics Association, and the subsequent two editions were rated as gold events and classified as A1 events. The fourth Jilin City Marathon received certification as an international bronze label event from World Athletics and later advanced to elite label status. After seven years of development, the Jilin City Marathon has once again ascended. This year, the marathon was recognized as an International Gold Label event and an A1 certified event by the Chinese Athletics Association, setting new standards for international competition. In addition to innovating the starting process, this year's Jilin City Marathon utilized advanced technology, adopting a 'digital event system' to assist in precise course mapping and visualization. The '3D real-scene digital course' allows runners to intuitively understand the route. The newly upgraded Watcher System 4.0 supports real-time sharing of athlete locations, enabling friends and family to track participants' positions and progress, creating an innovative 'cloud running' experience. Online, a popularity leaderboard and interactive features enhance engagement, while offline, a Watcher viewing area equipped with a live broadcast screen connects the online community with the offline event space, allowing every participant to deeply immerse themselves in the event atmosphere. This year's Jilin City Marathon also improved the finish dispersal flow, increasing the finish channels for the marathon to six and for the half marathon to eight, ensuring a comfortable and pleasant experience for all finishers. On the field, there are also "watchers" such as medical staff moving between healthcare stations and competition teams, enthusiastic volunteers ensuring the event runs smoothly with attentive service, public security and security personnel maintaining order, media workers delivering real-time updates and capturing highlights, and official pacers supporting more people in completing challenges and achieving their dreams. The selfless dedication and heartfelt protection from all parties have become a strong assurance for the successful presentation of the Jilin City Marathon. Closely linked with the marathon event, Jilin City has planned and implemented a series of cultural, sports, and commercial activities before, during, and after the race, showcasing the unique charm of "Jilin City Marathon +." Media Contact Company Name: Jilin City Marathon Contact Person: Media Relations Email: Send Email Country: China Website:
South China Morning Post
17-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Why were Chinese emperors' names taboo? Like popes, their titles reflected their legacy
The 1.3 billion Catholic Christians around the world welcomed Leo XIV as their new leader this month following the death of the widely loved Pope Francis. Advertisement It was in the middle of the last century that new popes began to choose papal names that communicate the aim of their papacy. The new pope said he had selected his name partly to honour Leo XIII, who was pope from 1878 to 1903, for his dedication to social issues and workers' rights. In the choice of his name, Leo XIV may be signalling the direction of the Roman Catholic Church under his reign – a church that looks out for the powerless, the poor and downtrodden. Given the traditional name taboo among the Chinese, where addressing people by their birth names in informal settings was simply not done and even rude, Chinese monarchs were never called by their names in their lifetimes, even out of earshot. The ruler who we now refer to as the Kangxi Emperor was born Aisin Gioro Xuanye. Anyone whose name shared the same characters as 'Xuanye' had to change their names. During their reigns, rulers were referred to as 'His Majesty' or 'Your Majesty' and, in the late imperial period, 'the Lord of 10,000 Years' or simply '10,000 Years', as a felicitous wish that they would be as long-lived. Sometimes, 'the current emperor' sufficed.
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Rare Chinese antiquities from Heathfield collection to be auctioned
Two rare Chinese antiques that had been in an East Sussex home for more than 100 years could fetch up to £36,000 at vase and wine pitcher were from the reign of the Kangxi Emperor (1661 to 1722) and were purchased by art connoisseur and philanthropist William Cleverley Alexander in 1907 and 1913. Both items had been in Mr Alexander's private collection in his country home in Heathfield Park and his descendants are putting them up for auction for the first time, according to auctioneers Woolley & Axford, chairperson of the auction house, said it was an "honour to be entrusted to sell the two pieces" and they anticipate interest from around the world. The auction house said the Kangxi era was a time of renewed stability in China, following the fall of the Ming Dynasty, which prompted a surge in artistic creativity. It added ceramics from this particular era are "regarded as some of the most exquisite ever produced".The vase is a rare underglaze decorated with two squirrels hiding in a fruiting grapevine. It features stylised lotus flowerheads and leaf scrolls with red flower motifs against a white background. The auction house said it carried an estimate of between £20,000 and £30, yellow-glazed pitcher is fashioned in the shape of the Chinese characters which translate as good fortune (Fu), prosperity (Lu) and longevity (Shou) and carries an estimate of between £4,000 and £6,000. Mr Alexander was credited for popularising Asian art in Britain during the Victorian era. Back in 2005, Woolley & Wallis sold one of Mr Alexander's collection in Heathfield Park, a blue and white vase from China's Yuan Dynasty (1271 to 1368), for £3m following an initial estimate of between £200,000 and £300,000.
