A 2,500-year-old Chinese bronze tapir has sold for a record price at The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) in Maastricht, Netherlands.
The bronze tapir, inlaid with gold and turquoise, was bought by a Chinese collector for $12m (£6.1m).
This is reportedly a world record price for an ancient Chinese bronze.
The collector is now expected to donate the tapir to a Chinese museum, according to Littlejohn and Hennessy Asian Art, which was exhibiting the item.
James Hennessy, from Littleton and Hennessy Asian Art, said: "We are delighted that the tapir has found a Chinese collector and we are delighted that TEFAF now holds the world's record price for an archaic Chinese bronze.
"Possibly this collector is going to present it to a major Chinese museum."
The bronze figure of the tapir, a pig-like mammal now classified as an endangered species, is just 10ins tall and 17ins long and was made in about the 4th century BC as a wine vessel.
A lid with a ring on its back can be removed to fill the interior with wine that is then poured out through the mouth.
The tapir is one of only two bronzes with such extensive and beautiful inlay known to exist, the other being in a museum in Taiwan.
TEFAF took place at the Maastricht Exhibition and Congress Centre (MECC) from March 9-18.
This year's event saw more than 200 of the world's leading dealers exhibit art and antiques worth over $1bn.
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