A Qing dynasty vase was the leading lot at Christie's New York on Thursday.

The celadon-glazed carved baluster vase realised $7.9m at the Magnificent Qing Monochrome Porcelains and Earlier Works of Art from the Gordon Collection sale, setting a world auction record for Qing monochrome porcelain.

It had received a high end estimate of $4m prior to the sale.

The vase, which was bought by a private Asian investor, has the Qianlong emperor's seal mark in underglaze blue, dating it to between 1736 and 1795.

A rare Qianlong blue glazed flask-form vase also made $5.4m at the auction, while a Yongzheng baluster vase realised $4.5m.

This Qing dynasty vase almost doubled its estimate

"We were delighted that this material, which had not been seen on the market for some thirty years, was received with such enthusiasm by buyers," said Tina Zonars, international director of Chinese works of art at Christie's.

The entire sale achieved $23m, with 95% of all lots selling.