'Chairman Mao' porcelain to be auctioned   

毛泽东81岁生日时订制瓷碗将拍卖 估价千万港币

A collection of ceramic bowls tailored-made for Chairman Mao are exhibited at a pre-auction viewing in Hong Kong on June 19, 2013. [Photo by polyauction.com.hk]

Hong Kong (CNS) -- A "Chairman Mao" porcelain set valued at HK$10 million to $12.5 million (US$1.3 million to 1.6 million) is to be auctioned today in Hong Kong.

The set is one of 10 made exclusively for Chairman Mao in 1974 for his 81st birthday.

The auction, to be held at Hong Kong's Renaissance Harbor View Hotel, also includes 100 pieces of Hunan embroidery and porcelain valued at more than HK$34 million.

The artwork was put on display during the auction's opening ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong on Wednesday.

Hu Huaiyin, an expert on Hunan porcelain, said the earth used to make the "Chairman Mao" porcelain can no longer be found, which makes the porcelain even rarer.

The set is an example of the highest level of porcelain in China, he said.