[Photo provided to China Daily]

Among them is a 4.4-meter-long scroll titled Six Dragons by 13th-century painter Chen Rong. It shows six powerful dragons at sea.

Jonathan Stone, Christie's international chairman of Asian Art, says the Fujita family had been collecting both Chinese and Japanese works of art for almost 100 years, and it led to the setting up of a very distinguished museum in Japan.

He tells China Daily that the proceeds from the sale will fund the refurbishment of the museum.

The sale is a highlight of the ongoing Asia Week New York. The annual event sees galleries, museums and auction houses team up to organize Asian art related events.

The Asia Week auctions of Chinese works of art have recently attracted an influx of Chinese collectors and dealers.