A rare Qing Dynasty porcelain vase, once dismissed as a cleverly crafted imitation, sold for £53 million after languishing for 40 years in a British family's attic. Crafted around 1740, the vase's sale captivated the art world with its remarkable backstory.
In the 1970s, a working-class British couple, intrigued by the ornate beauty of their vase, brought it to the BBC program Going for a Song, hoping to uncover its true value. The show, which aired from 1965 to 1977 and served as a precursor to Antiques Roadshow, featured customers and experts scrutinizing antiques. Their hopes were dashed when the program's expert concluded that the 16-inch tall porcelain ornament was "a very cleverly made reproduction" and lacked any collectible value. Disheartened, the couple stored the vase away in their attic, where it remained for four decades.
After the couple's passing, their relatives discovered the vase while clearing out the house. Curious about its potential worth, they sought a new valuation in 2010. They contacted David Reay, who leads auctions at Bainbridges Auction House. Reay was immediately struck by the vase's exquisite craftsmanship and suspected it was far more valuable than previously thought. "They told me it had been valued at just £800 two months earlier," said Reay, according to Mirror. "They also told me the owner had taken it on Going for a Song on the BBC about 40 years ago. He was told it was a very clever reproduction."
Recognizing the vase's potential significance, experts transported it to the prestigious Arts Club in London for further examination. There, additional specialists confirmed that the vase was an imperial artifact likely crafted for Emperor Qianlong, the fifth emperor of the Qing Dynasty. Its uniqueness and rarity were undeniable, prompting Reay to suggest it was worth at least £1 million.
When the vase went under the hammer at Bainbridges Auction House, the bidding was fierce. Collectors from around the globe recognized its historical importance, driving the price ever higher. "There was a hush as the price kept going up," recalled auctioneer Peter Bainbridge, according to CafeF. "It's a professional moment, but when the hammer comes down, you really have to reflect and think, 'Wow, that's a huge amount.'"
The auction culminated with the vase selling for an astounding £43 million. After including VAT and commission fees, the final payment totaled £53,105,000. The owners were reportedly so overwhelmed by the unexpected windfall that they had to leave the auction room to calm down, according to CafeF. The majority of the auction money will belong to the family, while Bainbridge earned about £10 million from the commission.
The vase's provenance adds a layer of historical intrigue. It is believed to have been plundered from an imperial palace in Peking (now Beijing) by British and French soldiers during the Second Opium War in the 1860s. Specifically, it likely came from the Summer Palace occupied by Emperor Xianfeng.
Going for a Song, the show that initially undervalued the vase, was known for featuring antique items brought in by viewers for expert evaluation. The program ran from 1965 to 1977, with Arthur Negus as the resident expert alongside host Max Robertson, according to The Sun. It laid the groundwork for Antiques Roadshow, which continues to captivate audiences with stories of hidden treasures and unexpected fortunes.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq