The Ming Chenghua Chicken Cup is officially presented to Mr Liu Yiqian by Nicolas Chow, Deputy Chairman of Sotheby’s Asia and International Head of Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. Image courtesy of Sotheby’s

ART AUCTION: Sotheby’s hands over Chicken Cup, the most important Chinese Porcelain sold for a record auction price, to buyer Liu Yiqian

Mr. Liu Yiqian puts down his signature, settling payment for the HK$281 million / US$36 million Chicken Cup with 24 swipes of his credit card. Image courtesy of Sotheby’s

HONG KONG— The legendary Ming Chenghua Chicken Cup sold for a record auction price at Sotheby’s Hong Kong this April has been presented to its new owner. Mr. Liu Yiqian, founder of the Long Museum in Shanghai paid $36 million for the object, setting the World Auction Record for Chinese Ceramics. The Meiyintang Cup will be transported to Shanghai and eventually showcased at Long Museum, signifying a historical moment of the repatriation of the most important Chinese porcelain.

Chicken cups, first created in the Chenghua reign (1465 – 87), have been eulogize, cherished and reproduced by Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) emperors and other discerning literati collectors. With a legendary aura that goes well beyond their immediate art-historical importance, Chenghua Chicken Cups were only ever offered for sale at auction at Sotheby’s, setting record prices for Chinese art in 1980 and 1999.

AUCTION PRICE | ALSO READ: Sotheby’s Disagrees With Chinese Art Historians on ‘Gong Fu Tie’ Calligraphy

Mr Liu Yiqian drinks tea from his prized Chicken Cup to celebrate its handover by Sotheby’s. Image courtesy of Sotheby’s

 The Meiyintang ‘Chicken Cup’

Sotheby’s art auctioneers and dealers talk about Meiyintang ‘Chicken Cup’ created in the Chenghua reign (1456-87).  The object which sold for $36 Million in April met the pinnacle of Chinese porcelain artistry.

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