A Chinese vase found in Nottinghamshire house sells for £15,000. The vase was expected to fetch £50 as it was thought the vase was a reproduction. The blue and white vase was 38 cm and was thought to date to circa 1640.
Auctioneer Charles Hanson of Hansons Auctioneers commented: “I spotted the vase in an ordinary two-up, two-down. It was filled with a few dried flowers in a bedroom. I picked it up and asked the seller if he knew anything about it. He mentioned that it had been given to his father when he was working as a chauffeur in the 1950s.”
Mr Hanson also said: “Why would a valuable piece of Chinese ceramics be tucked away in a modest house in Nottinghamshire? I arranged for the vase to be auctioned. However, despite my gut instinct, I made a mistake. After examination, I decided it was repro and consigned the vase into Hansons’ March Antiques and Collectables sale with a guide price of around £50”
“But when the auction catalogue went live online extraordinary bids started to come in for the humble vase. I withdrew it from sale to give myself time to consult Chinese ceramics experts and, importantly, ensure we achieved the best price possible for our client.”
