Porcelain pot valued at £100 sells for more than £100,000 after bidders speculate it could be a priceless Ming artefact
- The jardiniere went for a whopping £104,000 at Duke’s Auctioneers, Dorchester
A porcelain pot valued at just £100 was sold for 1,000 times its estimate after bidders speculated it could be a priceless Ming artefact.
The jardiniere – a type of decorative urn – went for a staggering £104,000 at Dorchester-based Duke’s Auctioneers.
A lack of identifying marks and a hole drilled through the centre of the base of the 8.5in dish meant it received a modest price tag.
But canny bidders noticed the blue-and-white tapered dish was decorated with fruiting vines, popular in the Ming dynasty.
Many pieces of Chinese porcelain feature a maker’s mark that denotes the dynasty and reign of their production, but this piece had no markings to offer a clue to its heritage.
A porcelain pot valued at just £100 was sold for 1,000 times its estimate after bidders speculated it could be a priceless Ming artefact
Porcelain pieces with drilled holes usually indicate someone has tried to add a wire to turn it into a lamp, although it is not clear if that is what happened with this jardiniere.
Despite the lack of provenance, the hammer price would suggest the market believed it is an important Chinese antique.
Bidding started at just £30, but there were another 170 bids before the hammer came down.
READ MORE: Antiques Roadshow guest is left in utter shock as his £7.99 vase is valued at an eye-watering amount
Despite international bidding, it sold to a private English collector for a hammer price of £80,000, plus fees.
Auctioneer Michael Roberts said: ‘We are just delighted for the vendor, the bowl definitely surpassed expectations.
‘They hadn’t had the easiest time in life so this really will make a difference to them.
‘It’s all part of the excitement of auctions, you only need a few people to really want something and the bidding can skyrocket.’
Porcelein crafted during the Ming dynasty (1368 – 1644) is renowned as some of the most highly-prized of all Chinese porcelein.
It is famed for its beauty, intricate detail and design and craftsmanship.
Source: Read Full Article