Pair of rare Chinese vases sell in London for 14 million pounds

A pair of rare Chinese famille rose vases from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) sold for 13 million pounds ($16.8 million) at Christie's auction house in London on Tuesday. [Photo by Du Xiaoying/chinadaily.com.cn]

It was the first time a pair of such Qianlong vases had been offered. Only four other single vases of a similar type have been sold at auctions to date. The vases are elaborately decorated with butterflies partially hidden and partially visible among flowers glazed with bright colors. Such intricate design, bearing royal hallmark colors such as yellow and red, imparts auspiciousness and long-lived wealth.

"This beautiful pair of Qianlong vases have caused great excitement, attracting the attention of key collectors internationally, both when touring to Christie's New York and Hong Kong and on display at Christie's King Street saleroom in London," said PedramRasti, director and head of the Chinese Works of Art Department at Christie's London.

Major auction houses in London are staging Asian art sales this week, including Sotheby's and Bonhams.

Last month, a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) blue and white lobed "Fish Pond" bowl was sold for HK$229 million ($29.5 million) to an Asian private collector at Sotheby's Hong Kong.

In 2010, a Chinese vase discovered during a routine house clearance in a London suburb went under the hammer for 43 million pounds, 40 times its estimated price. It was an auction record at the time for any work of art from Asia.