Ming-era "chicken cup" auctioned for $36M, smashing world record price for Chinese porcelain. Associated Press. Published April 9, 2014 4:00am EDT | Updated December 12, 2015 7:26pm EST.

Many of the very highest prices are commanded by ancient items such as Ming Dynasty chicken cups and vases, however. The previous record for Chinese porcelain was set in 2010 when a Qianlong vase ...

A collector bought a rare Ming Dynasty cup touted as the "holy grail" of China's art world for $36 million, smashing the world record for Chinese porcelain.

A Ming-dynasty cup bearing a modest painting of poultry has proven to be the "holy grail" of Chinese porcelain, fetching a record HK$281.24 million at a Sotheby's auction.

An 8.2-centimeter-tall porcelain cup from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) fetched a staggering HK$281.24 million ($36 million) at an auction in Hong Kong on Tuesday, setting a new record for Chinese ...