The Guan Octagonal Vase of Southern Song [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The vase sets a rare example of the products from the Guan kiln (official ware) in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. Guan is among the five prestigious kilns of the Song Dynasty whose porcelains have a reputation for excellence.

The bluish-green vase is distinguished with a web of veins of large-scale crackle. The great technical challenges meant that perfect pieces were rare, making the style one of the most widely admired and sought after Chinese porcelains.

Liu bought it for HK$113.9 million ($14.6 million) at Sotheby’s spring sale to add to the Long Museum’s collection.