CLARENCE, New York (AP) – A 250-year-old Chinese vase owned by a suburban Buffalo couple for decades has sold at auction for more than $1.5 million.

The Buffalo News reports that Tang Tao, a Chinese antiques dealer from Shanghai, outbid a British dealer for the vase, known as a Chinese moon flask. The large, bulbous porcelain vase dates to China’s Qinlong dynasty, between 1736 and 1795.

Tao was among several bidders at Saturday’s auction held at Antique World in Clarence, outside Buffalo. Several others entered bids over the phone from Hong Kong, London and the United States.

The vase was owned by a Clarence couple for at least 50 years. It was recently brought to Antique World’s owner, who didn’t know the vase’s value until the auction notice was posted online and received global interest.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

AP-WF-05-09-11 1310GMT