Living with timeless treasures: Mimi Wong's four-decade journey with Classic Chinese furniture

Born in the 1940s into a family of intellectuals in Shanghai, Mimi Wong inherited a profound appreciation for Chinese traditional art. Her great-grandfather, Wang Yiting (Wang Zhen, 1867–1938), was a celebrated painter, calligrapher, business leader and prominent Buddhist layman of the late Qing and early Republican era. The family’s reverence for cultural heritage has been passed down through generations. Mimi’s home in Mid-Levels Hong Kong still houses her great-grandfather’s ink paintings. She recalls her father sharing stories about their family's history, the fascinating anecdotes about old Shanghai, and introducing her to her great-grandfather’s works—landscapes, bird-and-flower paintings, Buddhist figures—all traditional Chinese subjects. These early experiences planted the seeds of her lifelong passion for traditional Chinese art and culture.

After graduating from Purdue University in the U.S., Mimi returned to Hong Kong in 1973 to build her business. By the 1980s, she had established herself and sought to furnish her new home. It was then that she decided to decorate her home with classic Chinese furniture, their elegant proportions and timeless forms, fascinated her. Her timing was fortuitous, mid-1980s and early 1990s are now regarded as the ‘Golden Age’ of Chinese classic furniture collecting.

‘I wanted pieces that would stand the test of time,’ Mimi reflects on the very beginning of her collecting journey. The understated silhouette, practicality, and meticulous craftsmanship of Ming furniture inevitably won her heart. ‘I was always on Hollywood Road, roaming the neighbourhood, going to antique shops to look for furniture.’ Mimi recalls with a smile. Scouring antique shops was not just about collecting; it was also a process of learning and understanding. After decades of collecting, Mimi shares an interesting insight, ‘Love at first sight almost never works. You must act decisively, but never impulsively. Research and contemplation are essential to avoid regret.’ Mimi’s furniture collection boasts over 200 important and exemplary pieces. Her collecting approach proves wise: nearly 40 years later, her huanghuali pedestal table, pair of ‘Fu’ character ‘official’s hat’ armchairs, six-post canopy bed, and so many more cherished Ming and Qing dynasty pieces are part of her daily life, adding an enduring beauty to every corner of her home.

Mimi places a high value on exquisite craftsmanship when selecting classic Chinese furniture. She greatly admires the dedication that true artisans poured into each piece, integrating rare and beautiful huanghuali and zitan woods with exceptional craftsmanship to create timeless treasures that still inspire awe centuries later. The furniture’s clean lines, balance of strength and delicacy, and cultural resonance continue to deeply move her. ‘This is a marvelous cultural legacy that only the Chinese could achieve.’

In the early days of her collecting journey, authoritative resources were scarce. The field was led by experts such as Robert Hatfield Ellsworth, the famous American collector, scholar and dealer of Asian art. He dedicated his life to connoisseurship and collecting Asian art, and his donations have greatly benefited renowned museums and institutions including The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the National Museum of China and Shanghai Museum. His 1971 book Chinese Furniture: Hardwood Examples of the Ming and Early Ching Dynasties was one of the first Western publications of Ming furniture, thus becoming a premier reference book for global Ming furniture enthusiasts.

In the early 1990s, a mutual friend introduced Mimi to Robert Ellsworth, sparking a lifelong friendship. ‘When Bob first saw our collection, he immediately proposed to write a catalogue for us,’ Mimi recalls. Robert Ellsworth visited Hong Kong twice yearly thereafter, advising on Mimi’s acquisitions and sharing insights. This collaboration culminated in the publication of Chinese Furniture: One Hundred Examples from the Mimi and Raymond Hung Collection, published in 1996 with a second volume featuring an additional 100 examples published in 2005.

Robert Ellsworth also orchestrated a landmark 1998 exhibition for part of Mimi’s collection at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, Essence of Style: Chinese Furniture of the Late Ming and Early Qing Dynasties, which showcased 44 superb examples of Chinese furniture and emphasized the high aesthetic and technical standards for the most sophisticated tastes, attesting to the exceptional quality and importance of Mimi’s collection.

Six hugely successful sales in 2015 of The Collection of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth sold at Christie’s New York further reinforced Mimi’s decision to partner with Christie’s.

Unlike collectors who store their purchases in warehouses, Mimi has always lived together with her Chinese furniture, weaving centuries-old artistry into modern life. Whether it’s a chess table, bookshelf, painting table, or six-post bed, traces of her taste are evident. In selecting and arranging her furniture, Mimi adheres to principles of versatility, timelessness, and practicality. Her home is a symphony of classic pieces: huanghuali cabinets, table and bed decorate her serene bedroom; a pedestal table, side table, stools and an elegant official’s hat chair are artfully arranged throughout her living spaces; a statue on the Buddhist shrine quietly adds a sense of calm and serenity. The offices are also furnished with centuries-old classic Chinese furniture. For Mimi, the furniture quietly holds her warm and enduring memories. ‘Furniture is meant to be used,’ Mimi insists. ‘The oils from handling in daily life breathe life into them. If they are only stored away and not used, the wood loses its natural shine and vitality. The precious hardwood used for furniture grows slowly and is durable, like friendship, which is why we should enjoy their companionship all the more so.’ Mimi explains thoughtfully.

The pair of ‘Fu’ character ‘official’s hat’ armchairs, and the six-post canopy bed (above) are among Mimi's favorites. The auspicious patterns on the chairs showcase symbolic artistry. The prominent fu character conveys a wish for happiness but there is a more subtle rebus contained within the bamboo-vase support zhubao pingan (virtue brings peace). The combined wish for enduring happiness and peace. While the complex lattice design of cloud heads conjoined by crosses on the elaborately worked six-post bed featuring simplified shou character in panels further conveys the wish for enduring longevity.

With this auction, Mimi expresses her wish to pass on the love for classic Chinese furniture to new collectors, creating resonance between generations, and inviting all to appreciate the beauty and legacy of traditional and highly refined Chinese art.