Ming Dynasty 'chicken cup' sold for record $36M

[Jesus Malverde]

Source: AP

A Shanghai collector bought a rare Ming Dynasty cup that's touted as the "holy grail" of China's art world for $36 million at a Hong Kong auction on Tuesday, smashing the previous world record price for Chinese porcelain.

Sotheby's said Liu Yiqian was the winning bidder for the small white cup, which measures just 8 centimeters (3.1 Inches) in diameter and is more than 500 years old. The vessel is known as a "chicken cup" because it's decorated with a rooster and hen tending to their chicks.

It was made during the reign of the Ming Dynasty's Chenghua Emperor, who ruled from 1465 to 1487. Sotheby's said there are only 17 such cups in existence, with four in private hands and the rest in museums.

"There's no more legendary object in the history of Chinese porcelain," said Nicholas Chow, Sotheby's deputy chairman for Asia. "This is really the holy grail when it comes to Chinese art."


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/world/article/Ming-Dynasty-chicken-cup-sold-for-record-36M-5384426.php

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[cosmicone]

1. Looks like something my grandma

would have thrown away as junk.

I wonder how many people threw away priceless treasures a hundred years ago.

[mntleo2]

12. LOL I was thinking the same thing!

As a matter of fact I sitll have some china from my grandmother that looks much like that style that she bought from the local dime store ~ made in the 1930s I suspect. I doubt she paid more than 50 cents for them at the time, if that.

But I will agree too many things have been stolen from other cultures and should be returned for all in that culture to enjoy, not sold to one rich person.

My 2 cents

[leftyladyfrommo]

2. You probably wouldn't want to use it for everyday.

It is very pretty but I don't think would have paid that much for it.

[geardaddy]

3. I'm glad it's staying in China

Too many artifacts have been stolen from China.

[onehandle]

5. Looks like it's going to be displayed in the buyer's privately funded museum.

The bulk of rare art sold these days ends up in the living room... or bathroom in the case of a Monet a while back, of a zillionaire.

Good for the buyer.

[geardaddy]

7. That is good.

I'm glad it will be displayed and not put away somewhere.

[Lodestar]

10. With all the new wealth in China, many of its historic artifacts/art are being bought up

by the Chinese at auctions the world over. Someone told me it's difficult to outbid them.

[truthisfreedom]

4. Looks new!

[catbyte]

6. That would last about 10 minutes around my cat, Otis, the Destroyer of All Things Breakable

My living room looks like Ft. Knox with all my vintage Kliban Cat ceramics & other precious objects locked away from my All-Destroying Thing, LOL.

The bowl is very charming, though. Not $36M charming, but charming nevertheless.

[passiveporcupine]

11. Sounds like a very fitting name for your cat

Have you seen the movie "Little Otis"?

[Zoonart]

8. HOLY SPIT!!!!

This is quite a day for me. I spent 20yrs restoring Chinese porcelains and pottery and over the years I heard many stories about the "Chen-Wah" chicken cup.

In 2000, I retired from restoration and the antiques community to paint and write full time . I have published a couple of Horror Novels and one short story collection called POST CRYPT. in Post Crypt is a short entitled "THE CHEN-WAH CHICKEN CUP".

For today only, I am sending around the story for those who would like to read it for free. Just leave me an email.

[Sunlei]

9. cool buy, by the chinese billionare who used to be a taxi driver :P

gives me incentive to keep playing around with stocks!

[Liberal_in_LA]

13. dont drop it

[Sunlei]

14. make jello shots in it or have tiny bowls of cereal!!