SHANGHAI — Christie’s auction house said Tuesday it had been granted a license that would enable it to become the first international auction house to operate independently in China, which has overtaken the United States as the world’s largest art and auction market.

The move allows Christie’s to sell directly to buyers from a growing class of wealthy collectors in China, many of whom have been spending vast sums of money in recent years on fine art, wine, watches, jewelry and other items at auctions around the world.

Sotheby’s and Christie’s have been operating in Hong Kong for several decades and have seen their business explode in the city, which is governed separately.