A Chinese ceramic bowl dating from the 18th century was sold for US$19.42 million at an auction on Tuesday, breaking the world record price for Qing dynasty ceramics. [AP]

Hong Kong - A Chinese ceramic bowl dating from the 18th century was sold for US$19.42 million at an auction on Tuesday, breaking the world record price for Qing dynasty ceramics, Christie's auction house said.

The famille rose (a pink-colored enamel) bowl, from the court of Emperor Qianlong, who reigned from 1736 to 1795, was also the most expensive work of art ever sold in any Asian auction, Christie's said.

The bowl is part of a pair. The other half is kept at a museum in London, Christie's said.

The previous auction record for Qing ceramics was set by a pheasant vase, which fetched $14.85 million at a Sotheby's auction in October 2005.

The bowl was sold by Chinese collector Robert Chang to Alice Cheng, a Hong Kong collector, Christie's said.