Chinese Vase Draws Record Price at London Auction

A Chinese vase that dates back to the 18th century has been sold at a London auction house for $69 million, the highest price ever paid for a piece of Asian art.

The 40-centimeter vase from China’s Qianlong period had been discovered when a woman was clearing out her house in a London suburb. It was purchased by a Chinese bidder for several times its anticipated price.

When the 20 percent auction fee is added, the total sale price is about $83 million.

It is not known how the vase wound up in the British capital. But the purchase price made the owners of the house where the vase was discovered instant millionaires.

Some information in this story was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.