Cracked rare Chinese vase is sold for £200,000 at Derbyshire auction

The Chinese collectible, with cracks aplenty and visible signs of repair, went for eight times its estimate after fierce competition between 11 phone bidders and online hopefuls. The vase eventually sold to an internet private bidder in China.

In good condition, the lantern vase would have fetched at least three times that price at auction.

Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, realised the potential of the 18ins high pot thanks to its pedigree. He said: “I fully expected this vase to excel, despite the cracks and repairs. It dates back to the period of Emperor Qianlong which made it extremely sought after.”

Mr Hanson spotted the vase languishing under a table in a living room during a house visit in Leicestershire to assess a range of antiques. He said: “ In good condition its auction estimate would have been in the region of £600,000 to £700,000.”

The use of copper red pigments in the decoration made the vase exceptional. Its decoration includes deer amid a landscape of pine trees and rock work. Cranes and clouds are depicted in parallel bands on its neck.

Mr Hanson said: “The vase was probably manufactured in the imperial kilns under the direction of Tang Ying during the early years of Qianlong’s reign, circa 1740, which would make it nearly 300 years old. A similar pair of vases was exhibited at the Minneapolis Museum of Art in America in 2004.

“Though the vase had been smashed at a hunting party in the 1950s, it still displayed exceptional artistry thanks to its subtle combination of underglaze blue and copper red pigments. This demonstrates both the virtuosity of the painter and the skill of the kiln master in the perfect firing of the copper red pigments."

He added: “The Chinese are extremely proud of their artistic heritage and the advanced skills their ancestors perfected centuries ago. Consequently, finds like this often spark strong bidding from the Far East as wealthy collectors like to repatriate items to their homeland.”

The vase sold at Hansons’ Derbyshire fine art auction this month. To find out more, email: [email protected].