Cleaning an attic usually results in bags of trash and maybe some old high school notebooks saved for some unknown reason. Recently, a French family made the discovery of a lifetime — maybe even a couple of lifetimes — when they found an intricately decorated porcelain vase in an old shoebox. Recognizing that they may have found something unique, the family had it appraised by Sotheby’s Paris. They did, indeed, find a treasure: the vase is dated from the Qing dynasty, the last imperial dynasty of China that started in 1636 and lasted to 1912. The vase, decorated with animals, trees and embellishments, could be worth more than $600,000. The Yangcai Famille Rose porcelain vase bears a mark from the reign of the Qianlong Emperor, who ruled China from 1736 to 1795.
The vase, according to Sotheby’s, was willed to the grandparents of its present owners by an uncle. Their inheritance also included several other works of Chinese porcelain and some Japanese artworks, including an “unusual bronze mirror.” Both the vase and the mirror will be sold at the Arte d’Asie auction being held at Sotheby’s Paris on June 12.
I am not a fan of Asian art. This vase is most unattractive to me. I would have put it back in the attic.
I’d loce to see the markings and the interpertation of the characters.. Perhaps a link to the auction site woul;d be good. What a great find!
Please let us know what it sold for.
When I saw this vase my first thought was wow! this vase is indeed very beautiful and in great shape too – but then my second thought was why is it that anytime I clear up an attic or any other place for that mater, do I only find useless junk that the person before me left for someone else to cart to the trash?
This looks like enamel to me, is it?