Late March will see Christie's launch its 'Asian Art Week' - a celebration of the enormous and unique impact the Far East has had on fine art for thousands of years.  Marked by a number of auctions, the week will see collectors and art investors offered some wonderful examples of the category.

The major highlight is a stunning and very rare blue-glazed vase, complete with a Qianlong seal.  Dating from that dynasty - 1736 to 1795 - the vase has a flattened, globular body with a beautiful pair of bird-form handles. 

Thought to be one of only four and last sold 30 years ago, Christie's have not divulged its estimate - but it likely to sell for millions of dollars.

The same auction - to be held on March 24 - includes a delicate celadon-glazed Baluster vase, also hailing from the Qianlong period.  Christie's describe it as having a "tapering ovoid body" featuring "archaistic patterns".  This rare piece could realise $4m.

The priceless and rare Qianlong blue-glazed vase

The day before, the auction house will be focusing on Japanese and Korean art - a highlight being the 1973 work '2-V-73 #313', by South Korean artist Whanki Kim.  One of his last paintings, it consists of thousands of blue dots, forming curves and circles.  The deep blue used was supposedly symbolic of the vastness of space.

This subtle yet striking masterpiece of Asian painting is expected to realise between $800,000 and $1m; a real sign of the rising stock of Oriental art. 

Christie's Asian Art week features many more excellent pieces alongside these highlights - with the current mass investment from the Chinese market in art, these auctions are sure to be popular and competitive.