A damaged Chinese vase – dismissed as worthless – has sold for tens of thousands of pounds after being spotted by a TV antiques expert.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers and a familiar face on Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip, was called to value objects at the seller’s Cheshire home. However, she didn’t bother to show him the cracked vase, which she’d owned for 25 years, believing it to be of no value.
Charles said: “I spotted it on top of her glass cabinet and immediately recognised its potential. Antique Chinese porcelain is highly sought after by wealthy Chinese buyers. They’re keen to repatriate items and honour the country’s rich ceramics heritage.
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“The Chinese blue and white nine-dragon bottle vase bore a Jiaqing mark from the period 1796-1820 making it around 200 years old. It entered Hansons’ October Fine Art sale with a guide price of £10,000-£15,000 – and sparked a fierce bidding battle. The hammer finally went down at £40,000 and the object is returning to China. The total paid with buyer’s premium was £55,595. Not bad for an item deemed worthless.”
The strong price for the vase, which featured painted dragons chasing a flaming pearl among trailing clouds, was achieved despite a 5cm by 8cm reglued section on the rim and a 27cm crack. The style of decoration had its roots in the imperial designs of the Qianlong period (1736-1795). Similar examples exist in The Palace Museum, Beijing, China. The Jiaqing Emperor was the sixth emperor of the Manchu-led Qing dynasty, and the fifth Qing emperor to rule over China from 1796 to 1820.
The owner of the vase, an 89-year-old retired speech therapist and mother of three, said: “I remember seeing it at my grandparents’ house a long time ago but I don’t know how long they’d had it or how they came to own it.
“After they died my mother inherited it but I don’t remember where she displayed it – maybe it was just put in a cupboard. After my mother died in 1996, I took over ownership. My brother didn’t want it because of the repaired crack. I have no idea how this damage occurred but the repair itself looked old. I didn’t think the vase was worth much but liked the carved wooden stand that went with it and kept it on top of my glass cabinet.
“A few years ago, I took it to a U3A session where a so-called Asian specialist was looking at anything we produced. She said it was worthless because of the repair and did not recognise the mark on its base. She said she would look it up and let me know but I heard nothing from her.
“When Charles Hanson visited me to value another item, I didn’t even bother to show him the vase but he noticed it immediately, recognised the base mark and assured me it was worth something. I was amazed, first of all at the suggested reserve and possible price mentioned, but the final amount was incredible! I plan to share the proceeds with my children.”
Charles said: “I am thrilled for our client. This valuable vase had been languishing on top of her glass cabinet for 25 years. Chinese finds like this can sell for significant, even life-changing, amounts. It’s always exciting to discover them.”
The Chinese vase sold in Hansons Auctioneers’ October 14 Fine Art Auction. Charles Hanson will be offering free valuations of Asian objects at Kelmarsh Hall, Kelmarsh, Northamptonshire, NN6 9LY, on November 16, 11am-2pm. Entries invited for all forthcoming auctions including the December Fine Art Auction. To arrange a free valuation or find out more, email service@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk.
