Rare 220-year-old Chinese vase could fetch over $100,000 at auction

By Adam Dutton via SWNS

A Chinese vase which came included with the contents of a house could fetch £100,000 ($111,069) at auction after it turned out to be a rare antique at least 220-years-old.

The owner of the "sublimely beautiful" vase had no idea of its worth and was left stunned to discover it was a relic from the Qianlong dynasty between 1735-1799.

It came included with the contents of a property in Surrey when it was purchased but was only recently discovered by antiques experts during a routine house visit.

The vividly-painted ancient vase is now expected to fetch a six-figure sum when it goes under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers, in Etwall, Derbys, England on October 14.

The double gourd Qianlong vase dates back to 1735-99. (Mark Laban / Hansons via SWNS)

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“It’s an incredible find, a rare double gourd vase bearing a Qianlong seal mark which dates it to the period 1735-1799," said Hansons owner Charles Hanson.

"The owner had no idea it could be valuable. Apparently, when they moved into the property, they purchased all the contents and the vase came with it.

"We regularly see exceptional results for Chinese ceramics and works of art, so I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see this sublimely beautiful piece achieve something approaching £100,000.

“There has long been strong demand from wealthy Chinese collectors to repatriate items such as this which pay homage to China’s extraordinary ceramics’ heritage.”

The rare pale green ground and gilt ‘lotus’ double gourd vase, with Qianlong seal mark, features a hemispherical lower bulb rising to a rounded upper section.

It is painted with stylised lotus scrolls with iron-red outlines and the sections are divided with a central narrow key-fret band in pink enamel.

The item will be offered in Hansons’ Fine Art sale with an estimate of £20,000-£30,000 ($22,213 -$33,320) but due to demand for Chinese objects it is expected to fetch much more.

Charles, a specialist in Oriental works of art, added: “Double gourd vases of this color scheme and design are rare and no examples have recently sold at auction.

"A slightly smaller coral ground and gilt ‘lotus’ double gourd vase with a Jiaqing seal mark in iron-red was sold at Bonhams London in 2014, but the style of painting was slightly different.

“Another more elaborately decorated Jiaqing turquoise ground vase of similar size was sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in 1980 and a deeper coral example went under the hammer with Christie’s Hong Kong in 2002.

“The fact that we cannot find exact replicas underlines the potential rarity of this find. It could surprise us all. It’s sure to attract keen interest from the Chinese market.

“Chinese emperors were great patrons of the arts. They encouraged and supported the creation of fine ceramics to adorn their palaces.

"This was certainly true of the Qianlong Emperor, a capable and cultured ruler who reigned from 1735 to 1796.

"In 1796 he abdicated in favor of his son, the Jiaqing Emperor, but retained ultimate power until his death at 87 in 1799.”