The first Chinese firearm with an imperial reign mark ever to be offered at auction sold for $2.5 million, the auction house Sotheby's London said on Wednesday.

The gun - a brilliantly designed and exquisitely crafted musket, produced in imperial workshops - was created for Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), arguably the greatest collector and patron of the arts in Chinese history.

Estimated at $1.3 million to $2 million, the firearm ignited a 10-minute bidding battle before finally selling to an Asian private collector.