A 500-year-old cup made during the Ming Dynasty era in China sold in Hong Kong for $36 million.
The cup, only 8 centimeters in diameter, is known as the “holy grail” of China’s art world, and is decorated with a rooster, hen and chicks. It is one of only 17 made during the reign of Chenghua Emperor, who ruled from 1465 to 1487. Four of the other cups are owned privately while the rest are on display in various museums.
The sale broke the record for highest price paid for Chinese porcelain. The previous record was held by a gourd-shaped vase which sold for $32.4 million. Liu Yiqian – a cab driver turned multimillionaire – was the winning bidder. The cup will likely be put on display at Long Museum in Shanghai, which he opened with his wife in 2012.
Courtesy of CBS News