The New York branch of Christies on March 17 showed off more than 100 treasures, on loan from three museums in China.

Of all the relics, one has stolen the show. It's a blue and white ewer or water pitcher. It dates back to the Yuan Dynasty which ended seven centuries ago.

ROSEMARY SCOTT (Christies, Asian Arts Dept) said:"I would have to say the most important Phoenix Ewer, the blue and white phoenix ewer, is of stupendous quality, a beautiful made piece, beautiful blue. And it was found, it was excavated at the Yuan Dynasty capital. And until that piece was found, we didn't know that the highest quality blue and white was actually used at the Yuan Court."

The relics were loaned by China's Beijing Art Museum, Capital Museum and Ding Ling Museum. They cover three of China's most fascinating dynastic periods: Yuan Dynasty, Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. They will be displayed in categories of Architectural Ornament, Glazed Ceramics, Gold Vessels, Personal Adornment, Jade and Scholar's Objects.

A Chinese representative says the exhibition is part of a program to boost education and understanding between China and US.

The treasures from Ancient Beijing will be on display for the next two weeks.