Photo/Sotherby's.
A 1000-year-old Chinese bowl that was bought for a few
dollars at a garage sale in New York state sold for more than
$US2.2 million at auction.
An unnamed New York family bought the "Ding" bowl, which is
from the Northern Song Dynasty, for no more than $US3 in 2007
and displayed it on a mantelpiece with no idea as to its real
worth, Sotheby's said.
After consulting with experts, the owners consigned the bowl
for auction. Sotheby's estimated it would sell for $US200,000
to $US300,000.
London dealer Giuseppe Eskenazi paid $US2,225,000 including
commission for the bowl, which measures just over five inches
(12.7 cm) in diameter, at the auction in New York City.
Sotheby's said the only known bowl of the same form, size and
almost identical decoration has been in the collection of the
British Museum in London for more than 60 years.
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