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Forgotten Porcelain Vase for 40 Years in Attic Identified as Rare Piece from the Eighteenth Century and Sold for Millions
A porcelain vase forgotten in an attic was auctioned for an impressive £53 million, equivalent today to about R$ 399.3 million. The piece, dismissed by experts for decades, belongs to the Qing dynasty.
In the 1970s, the vase was featured on the British show Going for a Song on BBC. At the time, the antiques expert assessed the object as a “very clever reproduction,” attributing a value of only £800 to it.
The couple who owned it, unconvinced by the appraisal, decided to keep the vase in their attic. There, the piece remained untouched for about 40 years.
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Re-Discovery After Decades
With the passing of the original owners, relatives began cleaning the family home. During the process, they found the vase stored in the attic. Surprised by its condition, they decided to submit it again for expert appraisal.
Detailed Appraisal and Surprise
The vase was sent to Bainbridges Auction House. Manager David Reay reported that upon receiving the item, he was informed about its previous appraisal of £800 and its appearance on the TV show four decades earlier.
The vase was then taken to the Arts Club in London for a more in-depth analysis. Experts confirmed it was a legitimate piece from the Qing dynasty, produced around 1740. The object was believed to have been made specifically for the fifth emperor of the dynasty, Qianlong.
According to experts, the vase may have been looted from the Summer Palace in Beijing during the Second Opium War.
At that time, British and French troops invaded the residence of Emperor Xianfeng. Despite the suspicion, the exact details of how the piece reached the United Kingdom remain unknown.
Auction Surpasses Expectations
After authentication, the piece was initially re-evaluated at £1 million. However, the auction exceeded all expectations. Bids rose quickly, reaching £43 million. With the addition of commissions and taxes, the total sale value reached £53,105,000.
Auctioneer Peter Bainbridge described the atmosphere in the room during the auction. According to him, silence fell as the bids rose steadily.
“I’m an auctioneer, so at that moment, I’m just doing the professional job I’m paid for. But when the hammer comes down, you take a moment and think: Wow, that’s really a lot of money,” he stated.
Family Reaction and Million-Pound Commissions
The family, surprised by the outcome, had to leave the auction room to process the result. Peter Bainbridge, responsible for the historic sale, received about £10 million in commission.
An Impressive Journey
Despite being initially ignored, the vase went through an extraordinary journey. From the attic of a house to the center of a million-dollar dispute, the piece now occupies a prominent place in the world of antiques, captivating collectors and experts worldwide.
With information from Hello Magazine.
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