Porcelain vase sells for 30 times antique valuation price
Kept on a staircase, a vase has attracted bids worth double the auction room's previous record.
A family in Derby shire is likely to be celebrating after a damaged Chinese vase they kept on the staircase set an auction house record.
The item had an antique valuation of between £250 and £350 but actually attracted a purchase price of £10,600 - more than 30 times the higher prediction.
According to the Burton Mail, Bagshaws Wintertons Fine Arts in Uttoxeter reported that two rival bidders entered into a lengthy battle for the piece of porcelain, with the sale starting at £250.
The elaborately-decorated 46 cm vase smashed a previous record at the premises of £5,000 - paid for three doubles basses - despite being a copy.
Sarah Plimmer of Bagshaws Winter tons told the news source: "I was delighted. There was spontaneous applause in the room because it was a record price for the saleroom. The vendor was delighted too."
She added that had the piece been an original, it would have been worth in excess of £1 million.
Other interesting antique valuation events this summer include an upcoming auction in August, reported recently in the Scotsman, due to see a fragment of red felt lining from the sword hilt of Bonnie Prince Charlie go under the hammer.
Posted by Lisa Marriott