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Pic: Sothebys/BNPS

A 600-year-old Chinese teapot made specially for a Ming Dynasty emperor has sold for an incredible £11m.

The 9ins tall imperial blue and white ewer with a five clawed dragon design was produced during the Yongle period (1402-1424).

It was fashioned from the Imperial kilns for use at the Yongle Emperor Zhu Di's Imperial palace in Beijing.

He had a personal interest in porcelain and started the trend of putting Imperial reign marks on his wares.

Described as 'one of the most important' pieces of porcelain from the era, it sparked a bidding war at auctioneers Sotheby's Hong Kong.