Mao porcelain auctioned for 8m yuan  

毛泽东专用瓷碗在香港被拍出800万元(图)

A set of ceramic bowls tailor-made in 1974 for then Chairman Mao Zedong sold for 8 million yuan (US$1.29 million) at auction in Hong Kong on on June 20.[Photo: Xinhua]

A pre-auction viewing in Hong Kong on June 19. [Photo:CNS/Ren Haixia]

Hong Kong (CNS) -- A set of ceramic bowls tailor-made in 1974 for then Chairman Mao Zedong sold for 8 million yuan (US$1.3 million) at auction in Hong Kong on Thursday.

The set of under-glazed colored ceramic bowls, as clear as jade, was specially designed and produced for Mao's 81st birthday.

The five eggshell bowls with patterns of rose, lotus, chrysanthemum and red plum blossoms, indicating the four seasons, correspond with Mao's poems.

Bidding was brisk for the porcelain and the winner is said to have received commission from a Taiwanese collector.

The rare 'Chairman Mao' porcelain drew the spotlight on Wednesday at a pre-auction viewing at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong.

Other ceramics and embroideries from Hunan province have also been sold, with the total sum reaching 26 million yuan.

The auction was staged at the Renaissance Hong Kong Harbor View Hotel by Poly Auction (Hong Kong) Ltd and the Cultural Industry Office of Hunan.