Once rejected by experts on an early Antiques Roadshow, a vase was rediscovered in an attic and sold for an incredible £53 million. Read more to uncover the news of Antiques roadshow vase worth 53 million.
Originating in the Qing era, the 16-inch porcelain vase was first featured on the BBC’s Going for a Song in the 1970s. At the time, the antiquities expert regarded it as a “very clever reproduction” and gave it a worth of £800.
The vase was kept in their attic for forty years by its owners, a British couple who were not convinced of its value. When their family was cleaning out the house after they passed away, they discovered the vase.
The vase was brought to Bainbridges Auction House after it was recovered, and manager David Reay saw that it might be something remarkable. “They told me it had been valued at just £800 two months earlier. They also told me the owner had taken it on Going for a Song on the BBC about 40 years ago”. David said, recalling the incident.
They added that it had been evaluated as a reproduction of Going for a Song approximately 40 years prior. Its actual beginnings were discovered through additional investigation at the esteemed Arts Club of London.
It was made for Qianlong, the fifth emperor of the Qing dynasty, in 1740, according to experts.
The vase is thought to have had a remarkable historical voyage. When British and French troops pillaged Emperor Xianfeng’s imperial home during the Second Opium War, experts believe it was stolen from Peking’s Summer Palace.
The vase’s revaluation after authentication was £1 million, but when it was put up for auction, the bidding swiftly increased. Commission and VAT added up to an eye-watering £53,105,000. The ultimate price came to an incredible £43 million.
The record-breaking sales
While the bids were skyrocketing, auctioneer Peter Bainbridge recounted the mood in the auction house. He stated: “There was a silence that wrapped itself around the sale as the figure grew slowly but surely up to the sky.”
In retrospect, Peter continued: “As an auctioneer, I’m just carrying out my paid professional duties at that moment. Once the hammer is down, though, you do look at it and realise, “Wow, that’s a lot of money.” The outcome was so overwhelming that the family had to leave the auction room to take in the situation.
The auction house experienced a historic moment with the sale, and Peter received a commission of almost £10 million. The family, on the other hand, was shocked by their unexpected wealth after secretly possessing a rare gem for decades.
Even though experts ignored it years ago, the vase’s incredible journey from attic to auction house has captured the attention of both antique enthusiasts and collectors.
An incredible £53,105,000 was paid in total after commission and VAT were included. On the tight situation, auctioneer Peter Bainbridge made a statement.
“There was a silence that wrapped itself around the sale as the figure grew slowly but surely up to the sky. I’m an auctioneer, so at that point, I’m just doing the professional job I’m paid to do”.
He further added post-sale, “But once the hammer’s down, you do take stock slightly and think, ‘Oh, wow, that’s rather a lot of money’.”
The sellers reportedly had to leave the room to collect themselves due to the overwhelming quantity, while Bainbridge made a cool £10 million in commission on the landmark sale.