The vase itself is pretty enough, adorned with butterflies and flowers, but even auctioneers Christie's were taken aback when it sold for $13.7 million yesterday - 10 times their estimate.
'What it says is that for very rare and important pieces, there is a very, very strong market among Asian collectors,' said Pola Antebi, head of Chinese Ceramics Works of Art at Christie's Hong Kong.
The vase in question is from the Qianlong period (1736-1795) of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911).
The purchase came at a time when the demand for imperial ceramics is on the rise, said Ms Antebi.
'Traditional collectors who were buying Chinese ceramics were looking for pieces in perfect condition. Now however, collectors are more forgiving,' she said.
The buyer of the rare, famille rose vase was an Asian private collector.
It is of a 'double-gourd' design, with butterflies flying through peonies, roses, chrysanthemums and other flowers.