Bidding for Chinese painting to start at US$15.8 mln  

北宋巨幅作品“耆英会”将现身拍场 底价不低于1亿

一幅北宋巨幅《文潞公耆英会图》5日现身此间。河南省博物院曾于上世纪末对该作品进行征集，但因价格过高而作罢。此次再度现身被预测不会低于一亿元人民币。

Beijing (CNS) -- A Chinese painting from the Northern Song Dynasty called "Society of Venerable Persons Sponsored by Wenlu" appeared at a meeting in Beijing on Tuesday.

The starting bid for the work will be no less than 100 million yuan (US$15.8 million), predicted Liu Jianye, general manager of the newly-founded Longrong International Auction Company.

The masterpiece tells the story of a senior official who organized a party for 13 people where they dined, drank wine and wrote poetry.

The 2-meter-long, 0.96-meter-wide scroll was certified as a genuine painting from the Northern Song Dynasty by the Palace Museum in 1998.