Goccia di Pioggia Vase

Goccia di Pioggia Vase by Christian Ghion is available at Salviati 422 W. Broadway , Soho 212-625-8390. PRICE: $820

Qing dynasty vase sells for £3m at auction

A rare Chinese vase dating back to the Qing dynasty dismissed as an imitation was hailed as one of the most important examples of Chinese porcelain to have come on to the British market in many years. The vase sold for nearly £3m at Sotheby's auction house.

The newly discovered and extraordinarily rare Chinese dragon vase sold for £2,820,500, establishing a new auction record for a piece of Qing dynasty blue-and-white porcelain. The Swiss collector, who does not want to be named, had stored it away after being told it was merely a clever copy of the real thing.