Labubu toy sculpture sold for $150,000 at China auction
A Beijing auction house has sold a four-foot-tall sculpture of a viral plush toy character for more than $150,000, as global demand for the Chinese-designed Labubu dolls reaches fever pitch.
The rabbit-like figures sporting mischievous grins began as a character created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, and are made by Beijing-based toy brand Pop Mart.
They have been endorsed by celebrities such as Rihanna and Dua Lipa, and fans have queued overnight outside stores hoping to snag one, with analysts pointing to the phenomenon as evidence of China's growing soft power.
On Tuesday, a teal sculpture depicting a Labubu character with a furry body and head fetched an eye-watering 1.08 million yuan ($150,260) at an auction held in Beijing, according to the auction house's app.
The sculpture is "the only piece of its kind in the world", according to Yongle International Auction.
It was offered alongside other Labubu paraphernalia including a brown statue that sold for 820,000 yuan.
Pop Mart has over 400 stores globally, including 30 US branches.
The worldwide frenzy has seen people go to desperate lengths to acquire their own Labubu.
Last month a London branch of Pop Mart suspended in-store sales of the toys, fearing violence from would-be buyers who failed to get their hands on the limited-edition Labubus.
In Singapore, CCTV footage captured a family stealing Labubu dolls from a claw machine, according to Singaporean online media outlet AsiaOne.
Burglars broke into a store in California last week and took several Labubu dolls along with electronics and other valuables, American news outlet ABC reported.
In China, the toys have been promised as freebies for new bank customers -- an incentive quickly shut down by local regulators, according to Chinese media reports.
The toys have spawned a booming resale market as well as an online community of fans sharing tips on how to customise their dolls.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Weekly
a day ago
- Gulf Weekly
Art for paws
Bahrain-based artists and zoophilists with a soft-spot for strays are creating vibrant murals, eye-catching paper art, Dilmun-themed graphics and more, all to offer the kingdom's furry friends a better life. British creative Kylee-Jai Wright, who arrived in Bahrain with her family and chihuahuas, 16 years ago, has brought alive a colourful mural, beautifying one of the boundary walls of the Bahrain Animal Rescue Centre's (BARC) shelter in Hamala last month. 'My friend, who fosters many dogs for BARC and had painted a mural for them, suggested my name. I designed the mural on my iPad and sent it over and they really loved it,' the 42-year-old told GulfWeekly. Sadly, the abstract artist's 10-year-old son Elliot Walsh died tragically in his sleep last year. The stated cause was Sudden Unexplained Death in Children – a medical term for a death that remains unexplained even after a thorough investigation, including an autopsy. A grieving Kylee-Jai could not get herself to go anywhere or do anything but as time passed, she began expressing herself through art and poetry. 'It was peaceful for me to go and paint there and I enjoyed the process,' said the animal lover, who has rescued two cats that were rejected by their mums. Indian expatriate and marketing professional Joylyn Fernandes' childhood passion for paper art grew into something bigger last year, when she decided to donate some of her work for an exhibition raising funds for Palestine. 'Since then, I have continued to raise funds for causes I am passionate about. 'I hand-cut my 'paper illustrations' after I create a rough digital rendition,' the 40-year-old self-taught arist from Janabiya, who has called Bahrain home for the last decade, explained. Joylyn co-founded registered local feline rescue charity Rescat in 2019. Since then, the volunteers have rescued and rehomed around 500 cats, with another 500 having undergone TNR; 'trap- neuter-return' is a method of controlling stray cat population. 'I have just started making art for this cause, but I plan to continue and invite more commissions. I am working on more pieces to sell and raise funds for TNR.' Bahraini branding and design creative Jenine Sharabi was sensitised to animals from a very young age. 'My mother, raised on a farm in the US, taught us to cherish animals, and my father's kindness reinforced that. When my family moved to Bahrain in 1989, my parents adopted Dusty, a remarkable black-and-white Bahraini Dilmun cat. Today, I share my home with four of them, alongside my toddler, who already adores them,' the 39-year-old from Budaiya said. The graduate from Central Saint Martins art and design college in London organises paint-and-sip events, proceeds of which are donated to Rescat. Her latest creation for the charity is a tote bag featuring a Dilmun cat. 'The Dilmun cat is a local treasure. All proceeds of these bags go toward Rescat's rescuing, rehoming, and TNR efforts,' the artist, who also created Rescat's brand identity, added.
Gulf Weekly
a day ago
- Gulf Weekly
Tales for all
Bahrain-based author Tajammul Kothari has penned his way into the fiction genre with his latest collection of short stories, spanning themes like romance, crime, children's literature and more, writes Melissa Nazareth. The Indian expatriate, who works as an administration manager with a local construction company, launched Mixed Bag – Short Stories on Amazon in April. The 134-page collection of 16 tales caters to 'every taste' as it explores a gamut of sentiments, from love and betrayal to racism and power struggles. 'After publishing my poetry books, I took a break from full time writing due to work and life pressures, and was only concentrating on writing short articles for my blog: However, the idea of writing fiction was always there at the back of my mind,' said the creative talent from Riffa, who was born and raised in the kingdom and attended the Indian School. In a previous interview with GulfWeekly, Tajammul noted that his foray into writing began with his blog and when he saw his readership grow, it spurred him on to experiment with different styles; poetry came to him naturally and eventually, became a 'passion'. 'Seeing a positive response to An Ode to Life and Unanswered Verses, my confidence surged and I took a step forward and published Mixed Bag – Short Stories. I hope it will receive the same appreciation and support as my previous works.' Not one to rest on past laurels, Tajammul is currently working on a novella inspired by Bahrain. 'Bahrain holds a very special place in my heart as I have lived in this wonderful country for so many years. My next book will feature this beautiful island and its people; it will have an ensemble characters from all over the world with one of the characters residing here in Bahrain,' he revealed. An excerpt from Retribution, one of the short stories, reads: 'In the evening, Rupert goes through the photographs and sees something unusual. He takes out his magnifying glass from his desk drawer and zooms in. He notices the name of the bookstore in the background. Memories are recollected as it is the same bookstore he used to visit so regularly in his hometown, Riverwell. He scratches his head and wonders if he has seen the girl somewhere, but he cannot recall.'
Syyaha
13-06-2025
- Syyaha
Egyptian, Chinese music shine at NMEC concert
The National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation (NMEC) was filled with a vibrant atmosphere of joy and unity as Egyptian and Chinese musicians graced the stage for a special concert entitled 'Conversation and Connection: Music Connects the World.'Organised in partnership with the Chinese Cultural Centre in Cairo, the event drew guests, dignitaries, and performers from both nations in a heartwarming celebration of shared cultural Eltaysb Abbas, CEO of the museum, spoke about the profound ties between Egypt and China, two ancient civilisations with histories stretching back millennia.'Music is one of the most essential threads in the fabric of any civilisation,' he said.'Through music, we express both joy and sorrow, and it plays a vital role in our traditions, rituals, and day-to-day life. Across time, music has been a key channel for human connection, weaving us together even when separated by geography or language.'Dr. Abbas also emphasised the museum's commitment to celebrating not just the physical artifacts of Egypt's grand past, but the intangible cultural treasures that continue to bring people together, including music.'It's every person's right, no matter where they are, to connect through the universal language of music,' he added, highlighting the museum's aim to foster understanding and friendship among all these sentiments, the Chinese Ambassador to Egypt, Liao Liqiang, lauded both nations as proud standard-bearers of civilisation, praising their mutual respect and commitment to appreciating the world's rich tapestry of cultures. He mentioned Chinese President Xi Jinping's 'Global Civilisation Initiative,' a call to strengthen dialogue and learning between cultures, a vision that has found a strong partner in President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who recently affirmed that 'human civilizations are meant to complement and benefit each other, not to create conflict or war.' The Ambassador also pointed to the significant role Egypt played in supporting the creation of the International Day for Dialogue among Civilisations, as well as regional cooperation through the China-Arab Centre for the Global Civilisation Initiative, in partnership with the Arab League. These joint efforts, he said, showcase the promise of collaboration in building global peace and evening's performances swept the audience into a world of sound, with Egyptian and Chinese musicians enchanting listeners with both traditional melodies and modern arrangements, a reflection of how music continues to evolve and bring new generations together, blending the richness of the past with the vibrancy of the present. On the sidelines of the event, representatives from the Chinese Culture Centre warmly showcased a variety of their activities and products, inviting guests to learn more about Chinese traditions. Adding to the vibrant atmosphere, an Egyptian tannoura performance also took place and was met with enthusiastic praise from the attendees, who were captivated by its colourful display and lively rhythms. Both highlights beautifully reflected the evening's spirit of cultural exchange and shared appreciation.
