AN eighteenth century teapot originally made for a Chinese emperor has sold for £2.06million an auction. 

The blue pot was made at around 1740 for Emperor Qianlong and conveys his four-character mark. 

It was initially purchased from a seller in London by World War One official E.A. Parry — an lawyer by profession — and his wife Angela in 1925. 

The 6inch wide bronze is one of just three known models. 

The others are in exhibition halls in Taipei, Taiwan and the US. 

It was valued at £800,000 yet started an bidding war when it came available to be purchased yesterday and reached a bid of £1.7million in Mayfair, focal London. 

Charges took the general overall expense for £2.06million. 

It is shrouded in scenes of mountains and lakes just as blossoms, butterflies and insects. 

A representative for barkers Bonhams said: "This was a very rare, important and exquisite piece made to a commission from the Qianlong Emperor himself. I am not surprised that it achieved such a remarkable price.”

The purchaser is believed to be a Far East authority — and is the most recent illustration of rich ­Chinese collectors recovering the nation's lost legacy.