A set of golden tea-making utensils associated with renowned feudal warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi fetched 300 million yen $2.15 million at an auction in Tokyo on May 27.
It is believed that Hideyoshi used the set in his famous golden tearoom from 1537 to 1598.
The warlord also gifted the utensils to Todo Takatora, known as a master of castle building, as a reward for his services.
Shinwa Auction Co. warned bidders the auction house would not guarantee the authenticity of such claims before the set went under the hammer on May 27.
Hirosawa Museum of Art, based in Chikusei, Ibaraki Prefecture, said it bought the set to revitalize the neighborhood.
The tea ceremony set, which was formerly owned by Count Takatsugu Todo 1884 - 1943, consists of 10 items, including a cup, a kettle, a brazier and a tea container.
It is not known who made the items or when, but records show the set was shown at an exhibition in 1929.
The set was made of gold-silver alloy, with a gold content of 80 - 88 percent.