BORDEAUX (AFP).- A set of three Buddha sculptures from the 15th-century Ming dynasty went under the hammer in France on Saturday for more than 6.2 million euros, over 10 times the estimated sale price, the auction house said, in a flourishing market for Chinese art.

An Asian collector snapped up the three gilded bronze pieces, which had initially been expected to fetch between 400,000 and 600,000 euros.

The three seated Buddhas were offered for sale along with other pieces from a private collection originating in China and Tibet between 1910 and 1925, the auction house in Bordeaux, southwestern France, said.

"These works of great rarity aroused much interest from... international collectors including many Chinese," it said.

"They were acquired for a sum of 6,292,000 euros ($6.9 million) by an Asian collector who was present at the auction," it added.

In June 2015, an 18th-century Chinese scroll attributed to the painter Gu Quan sold for 5.5 million euros at Christie's in Paris.

In April 2013, a 17th-century painting on Chinese silk was sold by Briscadieu for 3.3 million euros.



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