An embroidery by folk art master Chen Shaofang will be auctioned in Guangzhou on Sept. 21.

The reserve price has been set at a record high of 20 million yuan (US$2.4m). This was the highest reserve price for a piece of modern folk art in China, and it was hard to predict whether it could be sold, the Guangzhou Daily said.

The 13.8m x 1.12m embroidery, reportedly taking Chen ten years of hard work, depicts scenery in south China with flowers and birds of all kinds. The hand script "Splendid South China" by late Chinese painting master Guan Shanyue has made the embroidery even more precious.

Chen had previously regarded this piece as a landmark conclusion of her art and was not for sale.

The embroidery will be shown with 800 other folk art works from Sept.16 before they are auctioned on Sept. 21.

The exhibition will be free and will be a panoramic survey of Guangdong folk art. Visitors will be able to enjoy Yangjiang kites, Xinhui fans, Shiwan pottery statuettes, ancient royal court lamps besides embroidery and carvings.

Source:Shenzhen Daily