18th century bowl sets a Qing record
From the Associated Press
A Chinese ceramic bowl dating from the 18th century was sold for $19.42 million at an auction on Tuesday, breaking the record price for Qing Dynasty ceramics, Christie’s auction house said.
The famille rose (a pink-colored enamel) bowl, from the court of Emperor Qianlong, who reigned from 1736 to 1795, was also the most expensive work of art ever sold in any Asian auction, Christie’s said.
The bowl, sold by Chinese collector Robert Chang to Alice Cheng, a Hong Kong collector, is part of a pair. The other half is kept at a museum in London, Christie’s said.
The previous auction record for Qing ceramics was set by a pheasant vase, which fetched $14.85 million at a Sotheby’s auction in October 2005.