Rare treasures go on sale

A rare stem cup from the Ming Dynasty is among dozens of Chinese antiques, such as porcelain vases and bowls, jade articles and Ming-style furniture, which will go under the hammer later this month. Lin Qi reports.

A Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) blue-and-white stem cup that once belonged to a British pharmacist will go under the hammer in Hong Kong on May 31. The proceeds of the sale will be used to build a British college museum in Staffordshire.

The cup exemplifies the classical style and buttery luminosity of the porcelain made during the reign of Emperor Xuande, who introduced the mass production of blue-and-white porcelain not only for daily use in his royal court but also for trade and exchange with the rest of the world.