Rare Chinese peony jar makes £2.6m at auction

A "rare and magnificent" Yuan Dynasty jar sold for £2.6m at Sotheby's in London yesterday.

The Chinese vessel was described as an example of 14th century blue and white porcelain which is "undoubtedly one of the greatest contributions to the art of ceramics in history".

It was sold by a private Portuguese collection and had carried an estimate of 400,000-600,000.

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After competition from four bidders at the sale, it went to an anonymous telephone buyer for more than six times the expected price.

The fine peony painting on the jar is a typical characteristic of Yuan porcelain design.

But the depiction of the petals on the lotus bloom on the jar is considered particularly distinctive, with the petals folding over to reveal the heart of the bloom, and the stamen also prominently displayed.

A Sotheby's spokesman said: "A rare and magnificent Yuan Dynasty Blue and White 'Peony' jar sold for the exceptional sum of 2.6m ($4.1)."