A tiny 18th-century ceramic bowl decorated with apricot blossom and swallows that was made for an emperor smashed the world record for a piece of Chinese porcelain yesterday by selling for more than $19 million (£9.8million).

The exquisite masterpiece of famille rose ware, which once belonged to Barbara Hutton, the Woolworth heiress, fetched double its expected sale price to become the most expensive artwork sold in Asia. Famille rose refers to the type of glaze used to coat the bowl.