Ming Vase auctioned for $1.38 million

March 21st, 2011 - 7:52 pm ICT by Aishwarya Bhatt  

New York, Mar 21 (THAINDIAN NEWS) An antique Ming vase that dates back to 1736 was sold at Freeman’s auction for $1.38 million; the buyer’s identity remains anonymous.

The vase that was made during the era of Chinese emperor Qianlong set the world-record as one of the most expensive vases sold so far. According to Freeman’s publicist, Sotheby’s auction house had sold a similar vase in 2008 for $750.000.

At Freeman’s, nearly 80 people were at the auction along with about 70 online bidders who were willing to pay an incredibly high price for the vase. Zoe Hillenmeyer, Freeman’s spokesperson, refused to identify the buyer but mentioned that he was bidding on behalf of an antique collector in China.

Freeman’s auction sells Chinese artifacts twice a year, and this month’s session is a first of a series ending in June. “It was an exciting way to open the season,” Hillenmeyer said.

Other lots to be sold at the auction include a hardwood cabinet and other furniture items and textile that have an estimate pre-sale price starting from $30,000 to $80,000 and are few hundred years old.

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