$75,300 Lady Gaga teacup raises money for Japan tsunami charity

A teacup and saucer used by US singer Lady Gaga has sold for $75,300 at a charity event in Japan

A lipstick-marked teacup and saucer once used by Lady Gaga has raised $75,300 to help Japanese artists who wish to study in the US.

The US singer drank from the teacup, which bears the Japanese inscription: "We pray for Japan", at a Tokyo press conference for MTV's Music For Japan event, three months after the March 2011 tsunami hit the Japanese coastline.

During the press conference the Poker Face singer explained that she would auction the cup and saucer to raise funds for those affected by the disaster, which claimed more than 19,000 lives.

Lady Gaga memorabilia is rivalling Madonna’s for popularity

More than 1,300 bids were taken for the item at the week-long auction. It featured alongside several others lots whose sales will help victims of the disaster.

The most expensive lot of the auction was a Kawai crystal piano used by the Japan X rock band, which achieved $137,810.

Compared by many to Madonna, Lady Gaga has become a worldwide phenomenon since arriving on the scene in 2008.

Like Madge, the singer's collectibles are a big hit at auction, thanks in large part to their iconic nature.

A triangular dress she wore for a photo-shoot sold recently for $31,250, while a nude sketch produced by the unlikely hand of crooner Tony Bennett made $30,000.

Ms Gaga is well known for her philanthropic work. She donated the entire proceeds of her Radio City Music Hall gig in New York in January 2010 to victims of the Haiti earthquake.

The value of Madonna's signature rose in value by 8.82% pa between 2000 and 2011, from £375 ($590) to £950 ($1,490).

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