Siblings from London, who prefer to remain anonymous, were clearing out a family member’s attic when they found an old, dusty, ceramic vase from China. The brother and sister took it to Bainbridges, a small auction house in West London, to get appraised. They were both shocked to find out what it was worth.
“They were hopeful but they didn’t dare believe until the hammer went down. When it did, the sister had to go out of the room and have a breath of fresh air,” said Helen Porter from Bainbridges. Over night, the lucky kids became instant millionaires, however, it’s unknown how the vase ended up in the London home. Thanks, grandma?
The vase was sold to a Chinese buyer for $68 million (£43 million), but after the auction fees, the total was about $85 million (£53 million). Experts speculate that it is the highest anyone has ever paid for artwork from China. Dating back to the mid-18th century, it is believed that the vase was fired in the imperial kilns and resided at the Chinese Royal Palace.
“It is a piece of exquisite beauty and a supreme example of the skill of the ceramicist and decorator. It is a masterpiece. If only it could talk,” the auction house gushes on their website.
Read more about this story and view detailed photos here.
Photo by pissodisevo via Flickr.