The passion to return Chinese ceramics to their homeland saw an oriental brush pot sell for tens of thousands of pounds in London.
Chinese and Hong Kong bidders battled to own the doucai porcelain bitong brush pot, produced during the Qing dynasty (1636-1911). It eventually sold for a hammer price of £58,000 from an estimate of £15,000-£25,000 at Hansons London in October.
It was the star object among a host of ceramics to excel – several with oriental pedigree. For example, lot 399, a substantial pair of 19th century Chinese blue and underglazed red dragon vases sold for £7,000 which matched their
However, lot 390, a large Chinese porcelain charger featuring pomegranates, smashed its £70-£100 guide price to smithereens, selling for £5,500.
This Chinese brush pot sold for £58,000.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons London, said: “The call of the Orient has always been powerful in the auction world but it never ceases to surprise me how strong the market is for objects awash with eastern promise.
“China’s growing wealth has created high-net-worth individuals who are keen to repatriate objects to their homeland and reclaim their country’s past. China is renowned the world over for its porcelain – a Chinese invention
“The Chinese doucai porcelain brush pot, which we found in London, was beautifully painted and sparked worldwide interest. It was great to bring Chinese and Hong Kong buyers to our saleroom at the Normansfield Theatre in Teddington for a bidding battle.”guide price.
Chris Kirkham, associate directors of Hansons London, said: “It was an absolutely wonderful sale. The undoubted highlight was the discovery of the Chinese doucai brush pot which would have graced a scholar’s desk. It will be returning home to China after 300 years.”
Doucai is a technique in painted Chinese porcelain where parts of the design are painted in underglaze blue and the piece is then glazed and fired. The rest of the design is then added in overglaze enamels of different colours and the piece fired again at a lower temperature.
The style began in the 15th century under the Ming dynasty in the imperial factories at Jingdezhen. The technique was discontinued after a few decades but was later revived under the Qing dynasty.
The items were sold on October 14 at Hansons London Auction Centre, Normansfield Theatre, 2A Langdon Park, Teddington, TW11 9PS. To find out more or to arrange a free valuation, email [email protected] or call 0207 018 9300.
Hansons London is now gathering items for its December 9 Antiques and Fine Art Auction. Free valuations are available at the Normansfield on Wednesdays and Fridays, 10am-4pm, and every last Saturday of the month, 9.30am-12.30pm.
