Chinese imperial throne breaks record

CNN ^ | updated 4:43 a.m. EDT, Thu October 8, 2009 | Pauline Chiou

[Pan_Yan]

HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- An imperial "dragon" throne owned by a Chinese emperor set the world auction record for Chinese furniture Thursday, selling for about US $11 million.

There was frenzied bidding among mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan collectors at the Sotheby's auction in Hong Kong.

Thirty-six bids came in 10 minutes, with tension building as a new telephone bidder jumped into the competition.

"These mainland (China) buyers, mainland collectors are ready to pay the premium it takes to secure an object of this quality," said Nicolas Chow, international head of Chinese ceramics and art at Sotheby's.

The winning bid of US $11,068,193 (HK $85,780,000) was by a private Shanghai businessman. It was nearly triple the estimate of US $3.9 million (HK $30 million), Sotheby's said. Watch why the throne is so prized »

"This is the place from which the emperor conducted his stately affairs and received foreign envoys and basically, this is a seat of power," Chow said. "No one else should have sat down in this place."

The throne belonged to Emperor Qianlong, who ruled from 1736-1795.

[Pan_Yan]

Anyone want to sit on the dragon throne of China?

[Pan_Yan]

Ping.

[tumblindice]

I had to plunge my own throne earlier this evening.

[Pan_Yan]

I see the lowest common denominator is out in full force this evening.

[Teacher317]

Just in case you need a reminder of how good we have it today... this does NOT look like a comfy seat, and yet it's the best the EMPEROR could have 220 years ago.

Me, I'll take one of these... looks much more comfy...

[Pan_Yan]

I repeat my comment from above.

[SunkenCiv]

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	Gods Graves Glyphs	Thanks Pan_Yan. The throne belonged to Emperor Qianlong, who ruled from 1736-1795. Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
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[Cheburashka]

Having seen the picture of the throne and the guy standing by it, one question.

Does Emperor Qianlong translate into English as Emperor Wide Load?

[Pan_Yan]

Three for three in the comments.

[Teacher317]

This thread doesn't exactly require heavy intellectual discourse. A chair with historical value sold for a lot of money. Not really a lot of controversy or contemporary analytical issues at stake here, so we look for more light-hearted fare for a response.

Would you care to enlighten us about Qianlong?

[Pan_Yan]

Qianlong was the longest ruling emperor in China's history. He was quite successful, conquering many neighboring areas and expanding China's borders. He ruled China during great prosperity but much like Louis XIV the excesses of his later life overshadow much of his brilliance.

What I found fascinating about this story is that they say the throne sold for three times the amount estimated. Why shouldn't it? How many millions have dies in hundreds of wars in history so that one ruler or another could sit on the dragon throne? No wonder so many Asian businessmen would pay almost anything for the privilege, especially during communist rule. The dragon throne must be one of the ultimate symbols of power in the far east.