The first free-port auction of Western artworks in China is to be held in Xiamen in Fujian province on April 21.

Artworks bought at the auction won't be taxed if they are stored in Xiamen or transported overseas, said Gan Xuejun, founder and general manager of Huachen Auctions.

"We want to cater to the domestic demand for Western arts, as well as explore new ways of internationalizing the Chinese art market," Gan said on April 9.

The auction will present 350 pieces, including furniture, silver, stamps, coins, prints and oil paintings. Photography, the sector that Huachen specializes in, will also feature, with two photographs offered of British supermodel Kate Moss taken in 1988.

Highlights of the auction include 16 pieces of furniture by Francois Linke, one of most influential cabinetmakers in France in the late 19th and early 20th century, Mickey Mouse, a print from the Myths portfolio by Andy Warhol, and several paintings by Pablo Picasso. Sales are expected to range from 10,000 yuan ($1,611) to 2 million yuan.

The Chinese art maker is currently dominated by Chinese traditional art. However, with rising numbers of Western-style homes in China, the need for Western art will rise substantially in the future, Gan says.

"We are very much targeting middle-class people, especially those who have overseas experience and a strong interest in Western art," Gan says.

The auction will be broadcast live on epaiLive.com, which allows buyers to bid online.

sunyuanqing@chinadaily.com.cn