‘Doorstop’ vase is sold for $1.3m

Published on 15/09/2012 00:00

A RARE Ming Dynasty vase that had been used as a doorstop in a New York home has been sold for $1.3 million at auction.

The blue and white moon flask was auctioned on Wednesday at Sotheby’s sale of Chinese works of art. Its presale estimate was $600,000 to $900,000.

The piece had been in the same family collection for decades. The auction house said the family decided to sell it after seeing a similar piece in a Sotheby’s advertisement. They did not wish to be named.

They had the vase on a wooden stand that was used as a doorstop in their Long Island home.

Chinese art has increased in value in recent years, as newly wealthy Chinese buy back pieces that had left the country in previous centuries.