THE CHINALAIS | A 50-YEAR COLLECTION
420 Lots | No Reserves

Including Rarely Seen Masterpieces of Asian and Ethnographic Art, Textiles, Jewelry, Objects, Paintings

Live Showroom Auction: Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 11AM ET
Public Exhibition: May 17-18, 11AM-4PM

JOIN US! Sunday, May 17, for Refreshments and a Featured Talk by Lee Chinalai at 1PM: “Objects in Motion: Highlights from the Chinalai Collection“

 

No one is more astonished at the title of this auction than we are. A 50-year collection! It all began when we were living in Thailand in the early 1970s. After having a baby and building a house designed by Vichai, a young architect with a brand-new office, we didn’t have much money left over to buy anything extra. Even so, little by little we managed to acquire pieces of antique Hill Tribe silver jewelry and Shan, Chinese and Cambodian embossed silver boxes. You will see some of them in this auction.

It didn’t take long for us to become entranced with antique tribal art. The older work was created with spontaneity and rich with stories. It contained a spirit that was individual, cultural, and communal. It had, in short, both beauty and soul.

Then, in the late 70s and early 80s, Vichai had several architectural projects in Bahrain and we moved there. He set up a branch office and, for fun, we opened the first indoor plant shop on the island… Continue Reading

 

BUYER’S PREMIUM: IN-HOUSE, PHONE, ABSENTEE: 25%
Absentee Bid Form | Telephone Bid Form | Terms and Conditions (PDF)

Browse the Auction Catalog and Bid Live Online:

Online Bidding Also Available on these Portals:

NOTE: There Are No Hidden or Confidential Reserves; All Acceptable Bidding Commences at the Online Start Price. We Sell Approximately 60-80 Lots Per Hour. Shown below are a small sampling of lots. Please go to one of the online portal links above to view the entire auction catalog.