#Take5: Shanshan Wang

Introducing Shanshan Wang and the Takes5 chosen by her from the upcoming Chinese, Japanese & South East Asian Art auction that will take place on Tuesday 8 & Wednesday 9 November. 

Born and raised in the heart of cultured Beijing, Dr. Shanshan Wang has spent the last decade and a half studying and working in France, Germany, and the UK. With a Ph.D. in Chemistry, Shanshan continues to explore the common feature between science and art – creativity. Shanshan has had a life-long passion for art. She is an artist with many years of experience in both traditional Chinese paintings and Western art forms. Multilingual and with a scientific and artistic mind, profound cultural understanding, and deep knowledge of history.

Dr. Wang's special love for antiques began when she acquired her first Yangshao pottery (5 millennium BCE) while she was still at university. She spent almost all her school holidays wandering the museums, historical sites, and antique markets. She also did an apprenticeship alongside an experienced connoisseur for more than 20 years. Her scientific background and knowledge acquired from vast archaeological reports have equipped her with unique expertise in early Asian art which has immense historic and aesthetic value. In 2021 she opened her gallery, W. SHANSHAN in St. James's, London.

Her primary expertise is in the fields of early Chinese art, luxury collections, and European country houses. However, her parents, also passionate antique collectors, encouraged her to deepen her knowledge across multiple disciplines. She has been building up her connoisseurship in various areas since. Alongside the major gallery exhibitions, she provides educational programs, such as lecture series and handling sessions to the public and promotes cross-cultural knowledge.

 "Lot 662 is a garlic head bronze wine vessel from Han dynasty that has a beautiful patina and a smooth round shoulder. It looks simple without excessive decorations, which is classic for that period of time – the longest-lasting dynasty for almost 400 years in Chinese history"

_{Lot 662: A Chinese bronze garlic-mouth twin-handled wine flask, bianhu, Han dynasty}

"Lot 91 is a white Ding ware from the Northern Song dynasty. It is in an intact condition, particularly with the flower decorations that are hand-made incisions, not simple stamps. This made this piece with a special artisan’s touch, thus more valuable"

_{Lot 91: A Chinese Dingyao cream-glazed dish, Northern Song dynasty}