The king of Macau's gambling industry, Stanley Ho, paid HK$13.76 million (US$1.76 million) for an imperial throne at auction in Hong Kong.

Christie's said it was the highest ever bid in that art category.

Ho, 85, made the winning bid by telephone for the gilt-incised, five-panel, lacquer throne dating from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) during emperor Kangxi's reign (1662-1722), a Christie's spokeswoman said.

Asked what Ho planned to do with his new chair, and whether he might put it in one of his casinos, the Christie's spokeswoman replied: "We have to check with him."

Ho won a monopoly concession for casinos in the 1960s, but liberalization in the past few years has allowed foreign casino operators to move in and chip away at his empire.

Ho ranked number 104 on Forbes' list of billionaires this year, worth about US$7 billion.

Ho's company Sociedade de Jogos de Macau includes casinos, lotteries and horse betting.

Ho is a university drop-out with 17 children.