A rare Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) vase with a copper-red underglaze was sold for HK$78.52 million (US$10.13 million) on Tuesday in Hong Kong, setting a world auction record for any Ming porcelain.

 

"He's bought the vase at the right price, making a world record," said Edward Dolman, chief executive officer of Christie's International. Dolman was referring to the vase's buyer Steve Wynn, chairman of Wynn Resorts (Macao), who admitted that the vase was "expensive" but "priceless".

 

The pear-shaped vase decorated with a peony scroll is the only copper-red vase from the early Ming Dynasty, which reigned more than 600 years ago, still in perfect condition and to be offered at an auction in more than 15 years, according to Christie's Hong Kong.

 

The vase was originally inherited by a Scottish couple who used it as a lamp and did not realize just how significant it was until they saw a sample in a museum.

 

When Christie's London sold the vase in 1984, it fetched a price of 421,200 pounds (about US$615,000), a record price then for a Far Eastern work of art sold at Christie's.

 

Ceramics with copper-red underglaze decoration are very rare because the production procedure is extremely complicated.

 

Copper mineral used to produce the raspberry-red tone is known to be notoriously difficult to control during the firing process, which can result in a gray or almost colorless design.

 

Legend has it that due to the high rate of failure, potters from Jingdezhen, the famous Chinese ceramic-producing town, had to plead with Ming officials to reduce orders for ceramics as requested by the royal court.

 

Among the small number of underglazed vases remaining, most are damaged, particularly around the typically thin narrow necks.

 

This particular peony vase is rare because its pattern was expertly drawn and the color evenly distributed, and it is still in a perfect undamaged condition.

 

Describing the vase as "an extraordinary beautiful part of Chinese history", Wynn announced after the auction that he would give it to the Museum of Macao to exhibit.

 

"I want to make it a gift to the People's Republic of China, and make it a gift to the Museum of Macao, so that residents of Macao and visitors can appreciate the artifact," he said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 31, 2006)